CYCLING SUPERSTAR TADEJ Pogačar crushed his Vuelta a Espana rivals to clinch a sensational solo stage four victory on Tuesday and open up a commanding general classification lead.
The Slovenian, aiming to complete a Grand Tour grand slam, attacked with just over 50 kilometres remaining in Andorra’s mountains, and crossed the finish line with the chasing pack languishing.
Jarno Widar and Felix Gall completed the day’s podium in second and third respectively, both coming in 2min 39sec behind Pogačar as they beat out four other riders in a sprint to the line.
Eddie Dunbar was 13:45 off Pogačar’s pace in 42nd, and is 38th in the general classification.
Darren Rafferty was further back in 96th, at 22:45.
“It’s super good because now I can be calm and confident for the next days,” said Pogacar.
An exhibition from Pogačar 🎨
A 50km solo attack sees Tadej Pogačar stamp his authority on La Vuelta with a spectacular Stage 4 victory. 👑 pic.twitter.com/dfT8JAmyBB
“We just keep going day by day and focus on each day after this, because it will be a little bit less stressful for sure.”
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Already wearing the red jersey after winning the individual time trial on the first stage, UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Pogačar’s bid to carve out a significant lead was foiled on Monday by inclement weather.
Riders had to take shelter from a dangerous hailstorm in a roadside hotel in the Pyrenees and the third stage was abandoned.
So it was a day later than planned that five-time Tour de France winner Pogačar, hoping to become only the fourth rider to claim a Tour-Vuelta double in the same season, took full control.
Racing resumed on Tuesday with a short but tricky 104.8km course in the mountains with four categorised climbs.
Decathlon led onto the day’s second climb, Collada de Beixalis, but Pogačar decided that was his moment to shine.
The 27-year-old, competing in the Vuelta for the first time since 2019, powered ahead, with Gall attempting to follow him.
Pogačar goes from distance 🤯
Tadej Pogačar attacks with the red jersey on his back with just over 50km still to race on Stage 4 of La Vuelta and nobody can stay with him 🔥 pic.twitter.com/w6isNS9jEY
Pogačar dropped the Austrian, who fell back to the chase group, and flew on ahead, creating a two-minute gap.
“(I didn’t) want to be also isolated against all the GC riders because they would all play against me — I tried with an attack on the climb and I just hoped that I could survive until the finish line,” explained Pogačar.
“I saw that I could open the gap and I did it and it was pretty tough, but a beautiful day out there.”
- ‘Beautiful memories’ -
The chase group expanded to nine riders, including Oscar Onley and Primož Roglič, but Pogacar was three minutes ahead up the road at that point.
The unstoppable Slovenian pumped his fists then raised his arms aloft as he crossed the finish line.
Pogačar won his first stage at a Grand Tour in Andorra in 2019 at La Vuelta.
“I have such beautiful memories from the first time in Andorra,” added Pogačar.
“It was really beautiful and it’s one of my favourite moments of the career so I will never forget that day.”
Widar and Gall edged out four-time Vuelta winner Roglic, Onley, Enric Mas and Sepp Kuss in a sprint to the line, after they had dropped Richard Carapaz and Mattias Skjelmose in the final stages.
Wednesday’s stage five takes place in Spain, running 173.3km from Falset — south-west of Barcelona — to Roquetes, and offers the chance for a sprint finish.
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Pogacar crushes rivals with sensational solo stage four victory at Vuelta a Espana
CYCLING SUPERSTAR TADEJ Pogačar crushed his Vuelta a Espana rivals to clinch a sensational solo stage four victory on Tuesday and open up a commanding general classification lead.
The Slovenian, aiming to complete a Grand Tour grand slam, attacked with just over 50 kilometres remaining in Andorra’s mountains, and crossed the finish line with the chasing pack languishing.
Jarno Widar and Felix Gall completed the day’s podium in second and third respectively, both coming in 2min 39sec behind Pogačar as they beat out four other riders in a sprint to the line.
Eddie Dunbar was 13:45 off Pogačar’s pace in 42nd, and is 38th in the general classification.
Darren Rafferty was further back in 96th, at 22:45.
“It’s super good because now I can be calm and confident for the next days,” said Pogacar.
“We just keep going day by day and focus on each day after this, because it will be a little bit less stressful for sure.”
Already wearing the red jersey after winning the individual time trial on the first stage, UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Pogačar’s bid to carve out a significant lead was foiled on Monday by inclement weather.
Riders had to take shelter from a dangerous hailstorm in a roadside hotel in the Pyrenees and the third stage was abandoned.
So it was a day later than planned that five-time Tour de France winner Pogačar, hoping to become only the fourth rider to claim a Tour-Vuelta double in the same season, took full control.
Racing resumed on Tuesday with a short but tricky 104.8km course in the mountains with four categorised climbs.
Decathlon led onto the day’s second climb, Collada de Beixalis, but Pogačar decided that was his moment to shine.
The 27-year-old, competing in the Vuelta for the first time since 2019, powered ahead, with Gall attempting to follow him.
Pogačar dropped the Austrian, who fell back to the chase group, and flew on ahead, creating a two-minute gap.
“(I didn’t) want to be also isolated against all the GC riders because they would all play against me — I tried with an attack on the climb and I just hoped that I could survive until the finish line,” explained Pogačar.
“I saw that I could open the gap and I did it and it was pretty tough, but a beautiful day out there.”
- ‘Beautiful memories’ -
The chase group expanded to nine riders, including Oscar Onley and Primož Roglič, but Pogacar was three minutes ahead up the road at that point.
The unstoppable Slovenian pumped his fists then raised his arms aloft as he crossed the finish line.
Pogačar won his first stage at a Grand Tour in Andorra in 2019 at La Vuelta.
“I have such beautiful memories from the first time in Andorra,” added Pogačar.
“It was really beautiful and it’s one of my favourite moments of the career so I will never forget that day.”
Widar and Gall edged out four-time Vuelta winner Roglic, Onley, Enric Mas and Sepp Kuss in a sprint to the line, after they had dropped Richard Carapaz and Mattias Skjelmose in the final stages.
Wednesday’s stage five takes place in Spain, running 173.3km from Falset — south-west of Barcelona — to Roquetes, and offers the chance for a sprint finish.
– © AFP 2026
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Cycling Tadej Pogacar Vuelta a Espana