Pogacar delivered a perfect lead-out, but for the wrong team: "The idea was obviously stuck in my head"
Cycling
With Juan Sébastian Molano's unexpected absence, it was now up to Tadej Pogacar to perform in the first stage of the UAE Tour. The world champion would have had a good chance with the difficult finish if he had not started his sprint almost 400 meters from the finish line. This gave the UAE Team Emirates—XRG leader zero chance, who later explained how this was possible.
When Molano's rear tire exploded, Pogacar was just ahead of his Colombian teammate. The sprinter lost control and flipped over the central reservation. Miraculously, he did not take anyone else down with him. 'We were a bit unlucky with Sebas crashing," the Slovenian explained on his team's channels. "Things didn't go as planned at the end of the final. But otherwise, we had good legs, we tried and it was a nice race."
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Normally, Pogacar would have provided a lead-out for Molano, but he was not there after his crash. "It looked like I was still stuck in my leadout idea because I went so early in the wind! If Molano wasn't unlucky, I think it would have been something super beautiful," Pogacar added. Jonathan Milan gratefully took advantage of Pogacar's unintentional help and won the stage. The Slovenian finished just inside the top ten, thanks partly to a disqualification of the number two, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck).
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Pogacar looks forward to "first real long effort"
But all is not lost: the opening stage on Monday was not a goal for the world champion anyway. On Tuesday, there is a time trial, during which he can potentially do well in the GC. "I am looking forward to tomorrow, it's going to be the first real long effort of the season. The feeling is ok, there was a lot of work done in the winter and I hope it pays off tomorrow in the time trial."
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Latest Comments
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024