Pogačar takes flight to seize stage and extend lead at Tirreno-Adriatico

A week after the solitary feat at Strade Bianche, Tadej Pogačar struck again, reaching the finish line of the 6th stage of Tirreno-Adriatico solo on the road from Apecchio to Carpegna of 215 km and with the double pass on Monte Carpegna.

The talent from UAE Team Emirates made his move 16 km from the finish, on the second ascent of Monte Carpegna (6.2 km at 9.6% average gradient): responding to a move by Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious), Pogačar sank a single, but decisive attack, gaining about twenty seconds in a short time on a trio of pursuers made up of Landa, Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) and Richie Porte (Ineos -Grenadiers).
The advantage widened to almost 2 ‘at the brow (-12.5 km), so that the Slovenian was able to pedal smoothly to the finish to take his sixth victory of the season (+ 1’02 “over Vingegaard ), and the seventeenth win for the Emirati team.

Pogačar: “First of all I would like to thank the team and my team mates, they were once again fantastic all day and allowed me to take the last climb in the best position. I had good legs, Marc Soler was making a good pace, there were some attacks and, at that point, I decided to try to go all the way to the top at my own pace, giving it my all. It was very cold and, in this way, I also kept warm.
I am very happy to have won and to have repaid the work of the whole team during these last days: today my teammates struggled at the head of the group for 200 km, with the headwind, so it’s nice to have conquered the queen stage for them.
Now only one day remains, we remain calm and serene, hoping that Pascal Ackermann can recover from the efforts made for the team in the recent stages ”.
Tirreno-Adriatico stage 6 results

Tirreno-Adriatico – stage 6 results

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 5h28’57 “
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) + 1’03 ”
3. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) s.t.

Tirreno-Adriatico – general classification after stage 6 

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 23h45’55 “
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) + 1’52 ”
3. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) 2’33 ”

 
At Paris-Nice Joao Almeida showed poise and tenacity to take over the white jersey of best young rider at Paris-Nice, one stage from the conclusion of the French race.
The Portuguese talent from UAE Team Emirates crossed the finish line of the 7th stage in 5th place, 155.2 km starting in Nice and finishing uphill on the Col de Turini.

The final ascent immediately narrowed down to Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma), Daniel Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers), Simon Yates (Bike Exchange) and Nairo Quintana (Arkéa Samsic), who took the lead of the race gaining about twenty seconds on the first pursuers, with Brandon McNulty and João Almeida just behind.

The UAE Team Emirates duo, after managing their energies as best they could along the climb, changed pace as they approached the finish line and Almeida reached the four leading riders with 200 meters from the finish,( just before Roglic accelerated for the final sprint) taking 5th place at 11 ”from the Slovenian.
Sixth place went to Brandon McNulty at +25 “.

Today’s performance brought Almeida to 10th place in the overall ranking (+ 3’13 “from Roglic) and to the top of the youth standings, with a 1’44” lead over Mauri Vansevenant (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl).

Almeida will wear the white jersey in the last stage, the 115.6km Nice-Nice.

Almeida: “The group was immediately reduced to a few riders, on the last climb I managed to pace the effort well and to have the necessary energy in the final to catch the head of the race. I’m really happy.
The white jersey is a nice goal, after starting the race with the weight of the seconds lost in the falls ”.

Paris-Nice – Stage 7 results
1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 4h02’47 ”
2. Daniel Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers) s.t.
3. Simon Yates (BikeExchange) +2 ”
5. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +11 “
6. Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) +25 “

Paris-Nice – general classification after the 7th stage

1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 26h26’11 ”
2. Simon Yates (BikeExchange) +47 ”
3. Daniel Martinez (Ineos-Grenadiers) 1st minute
10. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 3’13 “