Euskaraz irakurri: Pogacarrek irabazi du Andaluziako Itzuliko estreinako stage; Mikel Landa, bigarren
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) won the first stage of the 69th edition of the Andalusia-Ruta del Sol Cycling Tourwhich was held this Wednesday, February 15, between Puente de Génave and Santiago de la Espada with 179 kilometers of travel, in the province of Jaén, for which reason it is also placed as overall leader.
the basque cyclist Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) was second at 38 seconds. Together with Landa, Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos-Grenadiers) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) crossed the finish linethird and fourth respectively.
Pogacar attacked with 12 kilometers to go and left the company of a group of about 15 runners. Mikel Landa held the Slovenian for 400 metersbut couldn’t keep up. Even so, the man from Alava managed to finish second by leading the trio formed with Rodríguez and Buitrago.
The inaugural stage was intense and eventful from the beginning and it didn’t take long for a group to form that starred in the break of the day with the presence of Gotzon Martín (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Álex Martín (Eolo), Clement Alleno (Burgos) and Aaron Van Poucke (Team Flanders). The four cyclists got along perfectly with a peloton that allowed them to maneuver so that they scored points in the flying goals of Villarrodrigo and Hornos and crowned the first mountainous difficulties, such as the top of Collado de los Yesos, Onsares and Navalperal. The maximum advantage reached 2 minutes and 45 seconds, although as the breakaway passed, Alleno and Van Poucke accused the effort and lost contact with their two teammates.
The Basque Omar Fraile jumped from the peloton (Ineos-Grenadiers) that did not take long to give Scope for Gozton Martín and Álex Martínwhich earned them to go first through the Horn Gorge pass but already with the encouragement of a group of runners led by the UAE Team Emirates, Tadej Pogacar’s team, who about 20 kilometers away they ended the adventure of the fugitives.
In the small peloton were the favorites to win the general and the main teams of the Tour of Andalusia, such as the UAE, Bharain and Movistar, but at the moment of truth Pogacar was the star who confirmed the forecast by winning with authority in Santiago de la Espada.
Classification 1st stage and general:
1 – POGACAR Tadej (UAE) 5:04:08
2 – LANDA Mikel (Bahrain) + 0:38
3 – RODRIGUEZ Carlos (INEOS) mt
4 – BUITRAGO Santiago (Bahrain) mt
5 – GEOGHEGAN HART Tao (INEOS) + 1:38
6 – SIVAKOV Pavel (INEOS) + 1:39
7 – CARUSO Damiano (Bahrain) mt
8 – MAS Enric (Movistar) mt
9 – HAIG Jack (Bahrain) mt
10 – CEPEDA Jefferson Alveiro (Caja Rural) + 1:41
Source: Eitb
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