Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, already a big winner in the UAE Tour in 2021, took the lead from Wout van Aert on stage 4 after Pogacar’s summit finish stage win
Tirreno Adriatico: Stage 4
It was a case of double celebration on stage 4 of the Tirreno Adriatico for Tadej Pogačar and his UAE Emirates team as the Slovenian took the stage victory and moved into the overall lead. On the mountain top finish (Prati di Tivo (14.7 km at 7%)), an attack 7.5 km from the finish and another dig at 6km to go allowed Pogačar to hold off Simon Yates (+6 “, Team BikeExchange) and Sergio Higuita (+29”, Ef-Nippo), as well as jumping to the top of the general classification with a 35 ”advantage over Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma).
Pogačar, also leader in the young rider classification and in the mountain classification, made his first move reacting to Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers) followed by the group of the main climbers. Pogačar, after catching his breath, jumped again just after the town of Pietracamela and this time no opponent was able to follow the young talent of UAE Team Emirates although Simon Yates did get very close finishing just six seconds adrift.
Pogačar: “I tried to attack to stay alone and be able to set my pace. When I saw that the advantage over my opponents was good, I pushed really hard to try and keep the gap, also because I knew Yates was coming close. I gave it my all and managed to win. As far as the general classification is concerned, every second advantage is precious, also because tomorrow a very difficult stage awaits us and the final time trial too so the fight for the victory will in the balance”.
Wout Van Aert: If Pogacar’s victory was expected, the ride by Wout van Aert was top draw, the sprint winner of stage 1, racing with the ‘goats’ up the final climb. “I am happy with my performance today. I squeezed the maximum out of it. The competition started attacking early on, which made the stage very difficult. I rode a constant pace, something that suits my abilities best. I caught a lot of wind and that made it difficult. In the beginning, I hoped for support from other riders, but I quickly realised that it had to come from myself. In my mind I made it a kind of time trial and gave everything until the end. If anyone else had had the blue jersey, I would have been on the wheel too. Now I could not hide and I rode for my classification. It’s only logical that the 2020 Tour winner will take the blue leader’s jersey from me here.”
The Belgian is showing ambition for the days ahead. The course seems to be perfectly suited for him. “Pogačar now has a nice lead on me, but I’m not giving up yet and I will do everything in the next three days to achieve the highest possible result. The team is very strong and that pleases me. I can be happy and proud with my performance today. As a result, I am still second and I may continue to have ambitions for the coming days.”
Simon Yates – 2nd stage 4 “It was good today; I am off GC so we were only going for the stage. I tried to play the game, I tried to get other GC guys to bring back any gaps, bring back any guys that were trying to get away and in the end the mistake was trying to play the game for too long as Pogacar was gone. I tried to go across and close the gap a little bit, but he was already long gone, I didn’t really get any time on him after the initial acceleration. It was tough to win the stage, but the sensations are good, so I am feeling quite happy.“
Jakob Fuglsang: “I am satisfied with my result today. We knew it would all come down to the last kilometres, therefore we stayed in the peloton the whole day and waited until the finale. Approaching the final climb, I was surrounded by the other favourites and rode a good rhythm up to the finish. Being seventh on the GC now shows me I am on the right path towards my season goals. Tomorrow will be another good chance for us to go for a good stage result.”
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
- TT Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 16m TT
- Result/Report: Nick Corkill RR
Other News on VeloUK
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands
- News: RideLondon Classique
- Event News: CiCLE Classic (Women & Junior Men)