Pogačar rises to the top on the first climb of the United Arab Emirates tour

Paris: Tadej Pogačar issued an early season statement yesterday when he sprinted away from the elite group to win the first climbing stage of the United Arab Emirates World Tour season. A powerful bunch was still together when the 181 km fourth stage struck Jebel Jais, the highest point in the Emirate. The Slovenes, led by two UAE teammates, have charged, despite a steep slope of 7% over the last 200 meters.

Briton Adam Yates of Ineos and Alexander Vlasov of Russia in Bora chased a desperate uphill sprint, but couldn’t close the gap. The trio ended 3 seconds before the next group of shattered bunch. United Arab Emirates defending champion Pogačar took the overall lead from Swiss rider Stephan Biseger, who was dropped early in the climb. The Tour de France double winner Pogačar leads Ineos Filippo Ganna by two seconds.

Italy’s Time Trial Specialists managed to stay with the climbing leaders, desperately jumping to the line trying to fill the gap created by Pogačar. Vlasov is 13 seconds behind in 3rd place, and Yates is another 2 seconds behind. The fifth stage on Thursday covers 182 km from Ras Al Khaimah Cornish to Al Khaimah Island and may end with a sprint. The race will end on Saturday and will end on another stage with the potential for a decisive climb. -AFP