Last year’s fast alles winner Tadej Pogacar contested his first race when the UAE tour started. With the result, he does not get a bit of a bit.
The Slovenian world champion attacked on the first stage of the home tour of his UAE team in the United Arab Emirates at the final mountain sprint. The three-time tour winner took up his legs around 200 meters before the finish line after he had been caught up, and finally ended up in tenth.
Milan faster than Philipsen
It won after 138 kilometers at the Liwa Palace of the Italians Jonathan Milan before the nine-time Tour-de-France-Stppen winner Jasper Philipsen, who was downgraded in the target sprint because of a wave. As a result, the New Zealand Finn Fisher-Black from the German Red Bull team moved to second place, the German Sprinter Phil Bauhaus was ninth before Pogacar.
Already on Tuesday, the 26-year-old could take the lead in the overall classification in the individual time trial over 12.2 kilometers on Al Hudayriyat Island, and the UAE tour ends on Sunday.
Pogacar wants the fourth tour victory
Pogacar had won the tour in the United Arab Emirates 2021 and 2022, and he has not started in the past two years. After his sensationally successful year 2024 – he won the triple from Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and World Cup – Pogacar varies his racing program this time, plans a very extensive classic season in spring. Then he focuses on the attack on his fourth success on the tour without a start.