Tadej Pogacar has seized power in the Tour of Italy. On the final climb Oropa, the Slovenian showed that there are currently few riders who ride uphill better than him. With the stage victory, Pogacar also takes the leader’s jersey. Cian Uijtdebroeks finished seventh in the group with the other favorites at thirty seconds. As a result, the 21-year-old rider will start tomorrow in the white youth jersey.
With one bone-dry attack 4.5 kilometers from the top, Tadej Pogacar won the Giro. Majka waved goodbye and Pogacar accelerated. Ben O’Connor was able to follow Pogi’s killer pace for exactly 200 meters and then he had to let the Slovenian champion go. Daniel Felipe Martinez won the sprint from Geraint Thomas in the chasing group.
However, it did not all go smoothly for Pogacar: at the foot of the final climb Oropa he first suffered a puncture and then slipped in the bend. Pogi escaped unscathed as his UAE Team Emirates team car was able to brake just in time. In no time he was able to close the gap with the peloton, after which the team took the lead and he completed the work.
In the background Cian Uijtdebroeks rode a very creditable climb. He did not try to follow Pogacar, but rode the entire climb at his own pace and eventually finished in seventh place, 30 seconds behind the Slovenian. As a result, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider is in fourth place in the standings and is also leader of the youth classification.
Tomorrow the riders will ride from Novara to Fossano and the sprinters appear to be taking their turn for the first time.
Rankings:
1. Tadej Pogacar2. Geraint Thomas op 45”3. Daniel Felipe Martinez;4. Cian Uijtdebroeks 54”5. One Rubio;