Tadej Pogacar takes the overall lead at the UAE Tour with a demonstration of power. The Slovenian world champion and Tour de France winner wins the 3rd stage with a mountain finish in Jebel Jais.
19.02.2025, 14:25
23.02.2025, 14:52
SDA
Pogacar did not take his first win of the season and the leader's jersey from Britain's Joshua Tarling with an explosive attack. Instead, he wore down his opponents in the final phase of the 181 km stage with a consistently high pace. Only five riders, including Britain's Oscar Onley and Austria's Felix Gall in second and third place, made it across the finish line without losing time. Tarling, the winner of Tuesday's time trial, lost 26 seconds.
Pogacar, who rides for the UAE-based Team UAE, thus took a good step towards his third overall victory at the UAE Tour after 2021 and 2022. After the third of seven stages, the 26-year-old dominator of last season is 18 seconds ahead of Tarling.
Stefan Bissegger, second in the time trial the day before ahead of Pogacar, lost more than eight minutes on Wednesday and fell far behind in the overall standings.
