Cycling: Tour of Catalonia: Pogacar sprints to second place

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Third race, third podium place: Tadej Pogacar continues to be in strong form. But it’s not enough to win because a breakaway saves a few meters lead to the finish.

Just two days after his third place in the difficult spring classic Milan-Sanremo, cycling star Tadej Pogacar put himself in the spotlight again at the start of the 103rd Tour of Catalonia

The Slovenian took second place in the uphill sprint on the first stage over 173.9 kilometers with start and finish in Sant Feliu de Guixols behind the Australian Nick Schultz, who had attacked one kilometer before the finish. Pogacar was clearly the fastest driver in the final, but was unable to catch up with Schultz in time.

Briton Stephen Williams took third place. Schultz also leads the overall standings ahead of Pogacar. Meanwhile, former Tour de France winner Egan Bernal (Colombia), who had gained three bonus seconds during the stage, was involved in a crash in the final.

Pogacar narrowly missed out on his first victory at the Milan-Sanremo classic on Saturday when he finished third behind sprint king Jasper Philipsen (Belgium) and Australian Michael Matthews (Australia). He had previously started the season with a victory in the Strade Bianche gravel race. The Tour of Catalonia, which continues on Tuesday with the mountain finish in Vallter 2000, serves as preparation for the Giro d’Italia for the two-time Tour champion.

dpa

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