Tadej Pogacar has been nothing short of an incredible talent over the last few seasons, more than consolidated in the pro peloton, however he continues to surprise. Today at the queen stage of
Tirreno-Adriatico, he put on what was one of his best performances so far by sealing the overall classification at Monte Carpegna.
“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," Pogacar said in a post-race interview.
Pogacar rode a controlled race, as his teammates paced the first ascent up the climb made famous by the late Marco Pantani, and was well positioned when Bahrain attacked the first descent. "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," he added. Pogacar attacked still in the first half of the final time up the climb, easily distancing Landa, Vingegaard and Mas who were in the leading group at the time, and quickly grew out a lead of over a minute which he kept until the finish.
"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," Pogacar concluded with. The team will try to set up Pascal Ackermann for the win on this final day of the race in San Benedetto del Tronto, as Pogacar is set to take another overall title home.