UAE Team Emirates' Pogacar claims Vuelta Valenciana victory

Tadej Pogacar celebrates his victory in the Vuelta Valenciana Image Credit: UAE Team Emirates

Dubai: After a winning display on stage 4 on the steep climb to Altea, Tadej Pogacar has cemented his victory in the Vuelta Valenciana.

With a relatively short final stage of 97.7 kilometres, it was destined to be a day for the sprinters. In the final kilometres UAE Team Emirates were active at the front with even race leader Pogacar pulling on the front in support of Alexander Kristoff. Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck Quick Step) proved quickest in the dash for the line with Kristoff just behind in fourth.

This result from Pogacar marks the seventh victory of the season for the UAE squad who will now turn their attention to the Tour Colombia which gets under way on Tuesday, February 11.

Director Sportif Neil Stephens was quick to pay compliments to the team and to Kristoff who played a key team role during the week and will now look towards the classics.

Pogacar said: “This win means a lot to me, especially after all the hard work we did in the winter to prepare. To start my first race and win is incredible, my form is really good — not as good as when I was in the Vuelta a Espana obviously, but the season is still early. My first big goal of the year will be the UAE Tour at the end of this month before building up towards my first Tour de France.”

Kristoff added: “It was a good week for the team — we won two stages and the GC so we can’t ask for more. For me it was also a good week, I felt quite strong on every stage and I was competitive in the sprints. I took a 3rd and a 4th, for sure I was aiming for more but I take confidence heading into my next race in Clásica Almería.”