"I didn't see a happy Pogacar" - UAE leader's Vuelta move explained after his solo attack brought back in rare moment
CyclingSaturday, 29 August 2026 at 11:11
It's been suggested that Tadej Pogacar has turned from his smiling dominance of the race earlier this week to cut a more frustrated and unhappy figure after one decisive moment on Thursday - one of the general classification riders finding an answer for his usual race-ending mountain attack.
Thursday's stage 6 seemed to be following a familiar script as the UAE Team Emirates leader turned up the heat on the slopes of El Bartolo, gradually dropping the general classification contenders in dominant fashion and going solo.
Mopping up the breakaway in the process, the Slovenian was seemingly sailing to a solo victory on the steep irregular slopes as the GC riders formed groups of ones and twos. Step up Enric Mas.
The Movistar leader appeared to be distancing the rest of the GC riders and settling into a second place marker behind Pogacar when cameras panned to show that he was closing in on Pogacar as he dramatically caught Pogacar at the crest of the climb - going to the line with him 20 kilometers later.
When the dust settled, Pogacar still stood on the top podium as his sprint bested Mas, but the moment served as a big marker and one of the very few times Pogacar has been reeled in after going solo at a race. When racing once again heated up on Friday's stage 7, things seemed a little different in his demeanor.
"I don't know. But I didn't see a happy Pogacar," Sporza analyst and commentator José De Cauwer said.
Tadej Pogacar in action on Stage 7 of the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
Pogacar wanted to be left alone
"Was it the story from yesterday? It seemed a bit like a 'day in the office,' as if he thought: it's Friday night and leave me alone."
Pogacar and the GC riders didn't compete for stage honours, but there were time differences from the group as Pogacar attacked. However, De Cauwer believes that the Slovenian should think twice before making moves as the race continues into the weekend.
"Maybe he is also thinking about his team. They won't be put under pressure, because the rest are all racing against each other. We have seen that for a long time. He just has to ride along, follow, and make another attack."
Enric Mas on Pogacar's attack
Pogacar put 16 seconds into Mas on stage 7, and reflecting on the stage, Mas suggested that Pogacar harboured some frustrations from the previous day leading him to make an attack when there was no stage win potential ahead.
“I think he got a little angry with certain moments during the race and that’s why he attacked,” Mas told Teledeporte after the finish.
“Perhaps it was partly because of yesterday,” Mas said when asked why Pogacar had again applied pressure despite holding such a commanding overall lead.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Yankees go home... and stay there.PogiSloFans29-08-2026
- Maybe I am "artificial intelligence"... and have the ability to outsmart all of you wannabe cycling commentators. It means I use my cleverness, quick thinking and strategy to beat all of you Yankees. Capish?PogiSloFans29-08-2026
- Lol the UCI have found a goose that keeps on laying golden eggs.Cyclingsbestfan29-08-2026
- Stop being so modest. Why would you hear that from a birdie? You and Pog are such good friends I think he may have told you that when you called him before the start.
Andrew29-08-2026 - Without a doubt it has changed its login many times and probably has more that one login that it uses to support itself.Andrew29-08-2026
- He can but does he want to is what you should asking Mr Americano. XxxAndrew29-08-2026
- @frieders3 - I am reasonably certain his mouth gets well worked at the gymAndrew29-08-2026
- Your mouth gets overworked - at the gym also old man ?frieders329-08-2026
- Pretty sure his login has changed multiple times due to being kicked off this site for idiotic comments.frieders329-08-2026
- Wout was a monster today. I really thought his day would end after the intermediate sprint.DAS28-08-2026
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