Top 10 stage finish keeps Pogačar in GC contention at the Vuelta

It was a bittersweet day for UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogačar , after a solid performance earned him a top 10 finish in stage 18 of La Vuelta, but also ended with him handing over the white jersey to Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana). Pogačar now sits in 5th place in the overall classification just 1’18” off a podium spot and 32” behind Lopez in the Youth Classification competition.

The 177.5km mountain stage from Colmenar Viejo to Becerril de la Sierra played out as anticipated, with the main GC contenders waiting until the last climb of the day to animate the race. A series of attacks from Lopez split the pack as they chased down the breakaway rider – and eventual stage winner – Sergio Higuita (EF Education First). Pogačar (photo Bettini) showed maturity by not panicking when the splits occurred, riding within his limits to minimise time loss and reserve energy for the remaining stages.

Pogačar reflected: “I  did everything I could to stay with the front group today. Of course I’m a little bit disappointed but I gave it my best, maybe it was just a bad day.
Saturday will be another decisive stage for the GC so I expect another day flat out there”.

Tomorrow, the peloton rides from Avila to Toledo on a 165.2km flat stage that will be hotly contested by the sprinters.

Stage 18 results
1 Sergio Higuita (Col)  Ef 4h33’09”
2 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 15″
3 Alejandro Valeverde (Esp) Movistar s.t.
9 Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 1’16”

General classification after stage 18
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 71h16’54”
2 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar 2’50”
3 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar 3’31”
4 Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana 4’17”
5 Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates 4’49”