Tadej Pogačar collects three crowns in Queralt
March 23 rd 2024 - 18:54 [GMT + 1]
The party of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in the Volta a Catalunya 2024 has had its most memorable chapter in the sixth stage disputed this Saturday, March 23. The Slovenian star has returned to sign an exhibition in one of the most anticipated days of the race, a penultimate stage with departure from the city of Berga and arrival at altitude to the sanctuary of Queralt after overcoming a total of five mountain passes, which have discovered the cycling potential of Berguedà and have been a public success.
The double winner of the Tour de France has starred in a ride of about 30 kilometers solo from its movement in the Collada de Sant Isidre to put the icing on the cake to a historic day, in which the Berguedà and its capital, which was not a protagonist of the Volta a Catalunya since 1959, have lived a day of great cycling and a unique atmosphere. Today's 154.7 kilometers included five mountain passes: the Coll de la Batallola (3rd category), the Collet de Cal Ros (2nd category), the Coll de Pradell (special category) and the Collada de Sant Isidre (1st category), before the final ascent to the sanctuary of Queralt (1st category), which was the first stage finish of the Volta Catalunya.
Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EasyPost) and Bauke Mollema (Lidl-Trek) were the first protagonists of the stage, with a breakaway that climbed the Coll de la Batallola (3rd category) and the Collet de Cal Ros (2nd category). However, their margin over the leader's group never exceeded two minutes, and with the impetus of the Visma - Lease to Bike team of Sepp Kuss they were neutralized at the foot of one of the great attractions of the day, the ascent to the dreaded Coll de Pradell, which was their first time in competition. Impossible ramps where the leader's team, UAE Team Emirates, has reduced the group of the favorite to just a dozen riders, leaving behind overall contenders such as Kuss himself or Wout Poels (Bahrain-Victorious).
However, the decisive move was made by Pogačar on the penultimate pass of the race, a Collada de Sant Isidre that was crowned 26.7 kilometers from the finish line and that was the start of the Slovenian's third triumphal march, after the ones in Vallter and Port Ainé. The ascent to the sanctuary of Queralt was a solo party for the Slovenian star, who enjoyed the atmosphere of the Berguedan fans, and crossed the finish line 57 seconds ahead of Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), his great pursuer in this Volta, and the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), who has risen to the third place on the podium.
After this spectacular day, the 103rd edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya will close this Sunday with its seventh stage starting and finishing in Barcelona. There will be 145.3 kilometers of stage with great prominence for the capital of Catalonia, as in all editions of the race, which after a few kilometers in which the Coll de la Creu d'Ordal (3rd category) will live its final party with its traditional six climbs to the Alt del Castell de Montjuïc.
