Pogačar wins stage 2 of the Vuelta Andalucia at the end of a duel against Mas
Thursday 16 February, 2023
On the third day of his racing season program, UAE Team Emirates’ talent won stage 2 of the Vuelta Andalucia, 156,1 km from Diezma-Alcalà la Real.
On the three kilometers cobbled uphill arrival, the duel of Pogačar-Mas which characterized the final part of 2022, was renewed and the Slovenian took the 6th seasonal success for the team.
A previous key moment of the stage was the 2nd category climb of the Puerto del la Hoya Carilla (10,3 km) which saw a group of 9 riders take the lead of the race: amongst the leading men there was Tadej Pogačar, who had produced an intense effort on the climb, bridging the gap from the main breakaway of the stage (12 riders leading the race from the early kilometers).
The UAE Team Emirates’ captain controlled the situation until the final uphill, where he managed to prevail once again, strengthening his leadership in the general classification (+48” on Buitrago).
Tenth place in the stage for Rafal Majka (+46”).
Pogačar: “The race was at full gas from the start since everybody wanted to be in the breakaway. On the penultimate climb Bahrain-Victorious attacked and I tried to follow and reply to their attacks: at the end, I had a perfect finish.
Tomorrow we will try to have a relaxed a race as possible in order to avoid to spend too much energy head, but it won’t be easy because all the teams would like to race full gas”.
The third stage will be easier for what concerns the course profile: 161 km of flat roads with departure from Alcalà de Guadaira to Alcalà de los Gazules.
Stage 2 results
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 3:40:10
- Enric Mas (Movistar) +4”
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) s.t.
General classification after stage 2
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 8:44:19
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +48”
- Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) +52”
