Tadej Pogacar delighted after winning UAE Tour title

Khaleej Times

24-02-2025

Tadej Pogacar was delighted after producing a vintage display on Jebel Hafeet to win the seventh and final stage of the UAE Tour. In doing so, the world champion sealed the UAE Tour title, marking his third victory in this race and a perfect display on home roads for UAE Team Emirates-XRG.
The Slovenian rode clear from his rivals with 7.8km of the final climb still to go, having formed part of an elite selection that left the peloton behind in the crosswinds. Once out front on his own, Pogačar would not be caught and simply extended his advantage to the line. With enough time to offer up high fives to the fans in attendance, Pogačar could celebrate his victory at the finish and punch the air as the now three-time UAE Tour champion.
'It was a crosswinds so it was good to make some chaos in the group. For us GC riders we had to be really careful and always be attentive. Somehow it worked, at first I didn't believe it would be cooperative but it went to the finish, so for me it was a really good day," Pogacar said.
The stage victory is the Slovenian's sixth at this race in his career, with today proving his third win atop the Jebel Hafeet Mountain. By wrapping up the general classification in style, Pogačar brings UAE Team Emirates-XRG its first title at the race since 2022.
Earlier in the day, Pogačar and his UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates Rune Herregodts and Florian Vermeersch had managed to manoeuvre their way into a handy position. With crosswinds whipping across the road at 125km to go, the trio placed themselves within an elite selection of riders that nipped off the front of the peloton.
As the echelons formed, so too did the leading group which would come to define the day. Kilometre by kilometre, this front group escaped the clutches of the peloton, and they would not be seen again. Flanked by his teammates, Pogačar was in the perfect position to surf the wheels and enjoy a relaxed approach to the final climb.
Beginning the Jebel Hafeet climb with an advantage of three minutes over the peloton behind – which included reigning UAE Tour champion Lennert Van (Lotto) – Vermeersch set the pace at the front of the race. Working on behalf of Pogačar, the Belgian produced a hard tempo right from the off and he would hand over to the reins to Herregodts with 8.3km to ride.
Herregodts' effort was mighty, with the new UAE Team Emirates-XRG recruit burying himself over the next 500m to tee up Pogačar's ultimate attack.
Literally riding himself to a standstill, Herregodts pulled off with 7.8km to go, at which point Pogačar decided it was time to fly. The Slovenian made not one, but two searing accelerations which delivered a hammer blow to his toughest initial competitors, Oscar Onley (Team Picnic PostNL) and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek).
Over the next kilometre, Pogačar settled into his rhythm and the gap to those behind began to grow. The two-time UAE Tour champion would soon complete the three-peat, with the race leader not to be caught before the finish.
Coming across the line 33 seconds ahead of Ciccone, the world champion delivered his second stage victory of the week and sealed his third UAE Tour title. Pogačar now adds the 2025 edition to his victories from 2021 and 2022.
'With Florian and Rune in the front, they kept getting me water and cooling me down. For me, it was ideal. [I attacked with 7.8km to go because] that's when Rune pulled off his effort. The guys did a great job for me and I decided to try and go solo, I didn't want to be surprised or counterattacked or anything," Pogacar said.
'Now, I don't race stage races anymore until Dauphiné, so it's time to switch the mind to the one-day classics and I will try to enjoy!'