Cycling
Second stage victory: Pogacar dominates the Tour of Catalonia
Also won the second mountain finish on the Tour of Catalonia: Tadej Pogacar. photo
© Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa/archive image
Second mountain finish, second success: Tadej Pogacar is in a class of his own on the Tour of Catalonia. The Slovenian extends his overall lead.
The Slovenian cycling star prevailed as a soloist in Port Ainé on the third stage. In the overall standings, the 25-year-old extended his lead to 2:27 minutes ahead of Spaniard Mikel Landa, who took second place on the 176.7-kilometer section. The Russian Alexander Vlasov from the German team Bora-hansgrohe is third, 2:55 minutes back.
Pogacar waited with his attack until 7.3 kilometers from the finish in the over 1,700 meter high ski area. As was the case the day before when he first reached the mountain, none of his opponents were a match for him. For the two-time Tour de France winner, it was his third victory in his fifth start this year, and he was never worse than third. Pogacar is using the tour as preparation for the Giro d’Italia, which he wants to win for the first time in May.
Thursday is a day for the sprinters. On the 169.2 kilometers from Sort to Lleida there is only one mountain in the second category to be conquered; the second half of the stage is almost flat. The race ends on Sunday in Barcelona.