Van Aert and Van der Poel, watch out! Pogacar and Milan gain valuable echelon experience for the Classics
Cycling
The fourth stage in the UAE Tour promised spectacle and did not disappoint. The peloton was thrown off balance twice, and the sprint at the finish line met all the expectations. Leading players Jonathan Milan and Tadej Pogacar talked about their experiences afterward.
Milan's stage win means he has two stage victories in two sprint opportunities in this UAE Tour. The Italian from Lidl-Trek was delighted during the flash interview. 'I think I started my sprint a little too early, but in the end, my bike throw won me the race. And as always, I must thank my teammates; it is almost effortless with them to achieve such results. This gives confidence, of course.
It's a remark with a touch of humor, but there is some truth to it. Milan was perfectly positioned and excellently assisted in the echelons along the way. "Echelons make it all a lot more interesting. I love it, and it's good to have already done one of these for the classics. It also creates some selection, with all the pain in the legs. You gain experience; we were always upfront and ready for what would come. We did that perfectly."
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Pogacar 'enjoyed' the echelons in UAE Tour
His two-stage victories naturally also put Milan at the top of the points classification. The jersey in the GC went to Pogacar after his stage victory on Jebel Jais. The Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates-XRG did everything possible to keep it in the crosswinds. "I like a bit of action when I'm upfront. We were always at the front as a team, so we enjoyed ourselves. It was a beautiful day."
Why did the UAE help the sprinter teams to keep the first echelon at the front for so long? "I prefer to finish such a stage in a smaller group," Pogacar explains. "When it came together, we saw how hectic it was in the last kilometers. Being part of the echelons is also effective in terms of physical exertion. It serves as good preparation for what is to come."
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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