Pogačar new leader of the UAE Tour

UAE Team Emirates made a strong step forward after yesterdays exploits to claim the red leaders jersey after stage 2 at the UAE Tour. On the second stage, a 13 km individual time trial on the Al Hudayriyat Island circuit, Mikkel Bjerg set the third best time of the day, with Tadej Pogačar fourth and new race leader.

Bjerg, the young Danish time trial specialist, finished behind stage winner Filippo Ganna (Ineos Granadier) and Bissegger (EF Education – Nippo) on a difficult test marked by strong winds.

Pogačar set-out relaxed and poised after the sixth place in the inaugural stage, and will now pull-on the leader’s jersey of the UAE Tour.

The third stage tomorrow will see the riders face the first real uphill challenge of this Tour: 166km culminating on the arduous summit of Mount Jabel Hafeet.

Pogačar: “I did not start with any particular result in my mind, I just wanted to go as fast and as good as I could and I think I managed to do that. I’m in a good position now with five stages to go, but anything can happen, and tomorrow we already have the hardest finish for this Tour at Jabel Hafeet. I hope to recover well and have good legs and we will see what happens”.

Stage 2 results:

1.Filippo Ganna (Ineos Granadier)  13’56”

2.Stefan Bissegger (EF Education – Nippo)  +14”

3.Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates)  +21”

4.Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)  +24”

General classification after the 2nd stage:

1.Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)  4h00’05”

2.João Almeida (Deceuninck – Quick Step)  +5”

3.Mattia Cattaneo (Deceuninck – Quick Step)  +18”