"I messed it up a bit in the final" - Tadej Pogacar settles for second on opening stage of Volta a Catalunya 2024

Tadej Pogacar was the favourite to take victory on the opening stage of the 2024 Volta a Catalunya. After a late attack from Israel - Premier Tech's Nick Schultz however, the Slovenian was forced to settle for second place.

"I really enjoyed the day to be honest, it was a hard day in the saddle with a good tempo all day and our guys did a great job," Pogacar reflected in conversation with the official website of UAE Team Emirates post-stage. "I messed it up a bit in the final. I should have tried to close the gap to Schultz immediately."

Nevertheless, Pogacar was full of praise for Schultz, who'd taken the peloton by complete surprise with an attack into the final kilometre of stage one.

"Schultz deserved the win after how he attacked in the last kilometre. I did a good sprint and I wanted a win," Pogacar concludes, casting an eye towards the next few days of racing. "Tomorrow on paper looks hard with a hard finish on Vallter 2000. We have a strong team here and we want to make it as hard as we can.”