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Independent Singapore
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
'It was best to take a break' — Tadej Pogacar to skip Vuelta a España after Tour de France victory
Photo: After an impressive performance at the Tour de France, top cyclist Tadej Pogacar announced that he will not compete in the Vuelta a Espana. This race is the only Grand Tour that Pogacar has not won yet, but the athlete decided to skip it this year, after a tough three weeks of racing in France. Pogacar said: 'After such a demanding Tour, we decided it was best to take a break. The Vuelta is of course a race I would dearly love to return to. I have fantastic memories there from 2019, but now the body is telling me to rest.' Moreover, Pogacar admitted that he would like to focus on the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec and the Grand Prix Cyclist de Montreal this September. He also aims to defend his title at the World Road Championships in Rwanda. 'I'm excited to go back to Canada; the races are tough but beautiful, and they fit my style well… I'll be aiming to be back racing well again for that part of the season and for the World Championships especially,' Pogacar declared. With his absence, Pogacar's awaited Vuelta meeting with Jonas Vingegaard from Visma-Lease a Bike won't happen this year. Vingegaard finished in second place at the Tour and also fought intensely for the yellow jersey. Furthermore, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG will now support Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso as their main leaders for this last big race of the season. On social media, Pogacar said after the Tour de France: '🇫🇷💛 What. A. Journey. Three weeks, one dream. Every kind of pain. Every kind of joy. That's the Tour. Huge respect to the peloton — no easy wins out here. Proud to wear yellow again, and even prouder of the people who made it possible. You know who you are 🙏 @ you were missed in Paris yesterday, but Vuelta is calling 🔥. Merci, hvala, thank you ❤️' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tadej Pogačar (@tadejpogacar) Netizens expressed their support in the comments by saying: 'Thanks for an amazing 21 days! Enjoy your vacation, champ!! 💛👑', 'You make cycling worth watching .. The Best Ever .. I hope stay motivated and keep on entertaining us for another decade atleast .. 😎❤️😎', and 'Thank you for all the emotions you gave us (as always)! Wish you to get some well deserved rest and to enjoy your time surrounded by your loved ones, doing the things you love! 🥹🫶🏻' This year's Vuelta will run from August 23 to September 14. It will have 21 stages covering a total distance of 3,151 kilometres. There will be four flat stages, six medium mountain stages, five mountain stages, one individual time trial, and three hilly stages with high-altitude finales. All racers will also have two rest days for recovery during the three weeks of competition. Know more about the upcoming race here. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
Pogacar to skip Vuelta after Tour de France triumph
TADEJ POGACAR WILL not race in the Vuelta a Espana next month following his latest Tour de France triumph, his team said on Tuesday. 'Fresh from his emphatic fourth victory at the Tour de France, (Pogacar) will take a well-earned break,' UAE Team Emirates said as they named their eight-man squad for the Vuelta. The 26-year-old Pogacar crushed his rivals to collect another Tour title on Sunday, adding to those won in 2020, 2021 and 2024. 'After such a demanding Tour, we decided it was best to take a break,' Pogacar said in a team statement. 'The Vuelta is of course a race I would dearly love to return to. I have fantastic memories there from 2019, but now the body is telling me to rest.' Pogacar plans to return to competition in the Canadian one-day races in Quebec and Montreal in mid-September, a week before the world championships begin in Rwanda. 'I'm excited to go back to Canada; the races are tough but beautiful, and they fit my style well,' he said. Advertisement 'I'll be aiming to be back racing well again for that part of the season and for the World Championships especially.' The Vuelta is the only Grand Tour that Pogacar has not won. He finished third in his only participation in 2019. Pogacar won the Giro d'Italia last year on his debut. This year's Vuelta begins in Turin, Italy, on 23 August and ends in Madrid on 14 September. – © AFP 2025 Tadej Pogacar will not race in the Vuelta a Espana next month following his latest Tour de France triumph, his team said on Tuesday. 'Fresh from his emphatic fourth victory at the Tour de France, (Pogacar) will take a well-earned break,' UAE Team Emirates said as they named their eight-man squad for the Vuelta. The 26-year-old Pogacar crushed his rivals to collect another Tour title on Sunday, adding to those won in 2020, 2021 and 2024. 'After such a demanding Tour, we decided it was best to take a break,' Pogacar said in a team statement. 'The Vuelta is of course a race I would dearly love to return to. I have fantastic memories there from 2019, but now the body is telling me to rest.' Pogacar plans to return to competition in the Canadian one-day races in Quebec and Montreal in mid-September, a week before the world championships begin in Rwanda. 'I'm excited to go back to Canada; the races are tough but beautiful, and they fit my style well,' he said. 'I'll be aiming to be back racing well again for that part of the season and for the World Championships especially.' The Vuelta is the only Grand Tour that Pogacar has not won. He finished third in his only participation in 2019. Pogacar won the Giro d'Italia last year on his debut. This year's Vuelta begins in Turin, Italy, on August 23 and ends in Madrid on September 14.
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Why the UAE's Tour de France success should come as no surprise
It may be a long way from the cycling streets of Paris to the mountains and deserts of the UAE but one thing connected them this week – Sunday's remarkable Tour de France victory of UAE Team Emirates-XRG's superstar, Tadej Pogacar. The 26-year-old Slovenian's victory ride through the French capital to celebrate his fourth Tour win was well deserved, with one team colleague hailing him as a 'once in a generation' talent. Such an achievement should not come as a surprise to anyone who has witnessed the revolution that has taken place in UAE professional cycling in recent years. And although Pogacar's undoubted abilities helped to earn him yet another accolade, Emirati cycling can also be proud of developing a sporting culture that embraces recreational riders as well as elite-level competitors. On one hand, the story of professional cycling in the Emirates is one of vision and commitment leading to world-class outcomes. In a little over a decade, cycling tours in Dubai and Abu Dhabi evolved into today's UAE Tour, which remains the only UCI WorldTour race in the Middle East. This race consistently attracts some of the best in world cycling, with competitors speeding across flat desert stretches and along city streets as well as tackling gruelling mountain climbs such as Jebel Hafeet and Jebel Jais. Such success did not spring from nowhere; significant government and corporate backing for riders, organisers and cycling infrastructure as a whole has played a major part in this sporting story. But such support for cycling does not begin and end with the highest levels of men's competition. In 2021, UAE Team ADQ became the first women's professional cycling team in the Middle East, competing with 14 teams in Women's World Tour races. Last December, it was announced that Abu Dhabi international investment entity XRG had entered a six-year partnership with UAE Team Emirates, a move that ensures Emirati cycling will remain competitive. Although many foreign-born riders have represented the UAE with distinction, home-grown talent has also made its presence felt. Last year, Safiya Al Sayegh – the country's first female professional cyclist – also become the first Emirati woman cyclist to qualify for the Olympics. Another trailblazer is Yousif Mirza who had the honour of becoming the first Emirati to compete in the road race event at the Rio Games in 2016, and last year travelled to the Paris Games as Al Sayegh's coach. Promising Emirati cyclists Abdullah Al Hammadi and Mohammad Al Mutaiwei are also ones to watch. Parallel to these achievements has been the promotion of cycling in the Emirate as a whole. In the same year that the country's first professional women's team was founded, Abu Dhabi was distinguished as a Bike City by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the Switzerland-based governing body for international competitive cycling. This recognised the emirate's commitment to the UCI's Cycling for All strategy, which aims to promote cycling as a healthy, everyday activity, as a more sustainable means of transport, and as a competitive sport for amateurs and professionals. Cyclists in the UAE – whether professional and amateur – can feel that they are also part of this story, with some among them primed to write the next chapters in this sporting tale Infrastructure projects in the capital also bear out this commitment. These include a new 109-kilometre designated cycling track called the Abu Dhabi Loop and a 3,500-seat velodrome, called the Velodrome Hudayriyat, currently being built on Hudayriyat Island. Dubai too has long embraced the bicycle; last May its Quality of Life Strategy 2033 included aims to increase the length of beach cycling tracks by 300 per cent and develop more than 115km of pedestrian and cycling tracks. Back in Paris, Pogacar's celebrations were proof that winning a Tour de Frances takes something extra special. But cyclists in the UAE – whether professional and amateur – can feel that they are also part of this tale with some among them primed to write the next chapters in this sporting story.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Tadej Pogacar wins fourth Tour de France with trademark verve, further placing him among cycling's greats
Even though he really did not need to, and risked falling on oil slick-wet roads, Pogačar simply could not help himself. Against all logical opinion, he tried winning Sunday's 21st and final stage with trademark uphill attacks, only to fall short of the stage win itself. Advertisement 'In the end I found myself in the front, even though I didn't have the energy,' said Pogačar, who Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Just speechless to win the Tour de France, this one feels especially amazing,' Pogačar added. 'Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey.' Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place. Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. It was the fifth straight year where Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 at the Tour. Vingegaard was second in 2021 before beating Pogačar the next Advertisement 'We've raised the level of each other much higher and we push each other to the limit,' Pogačar said. 'I must say to him, big, big respect.' Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Because of heavy rain and the risk of crashes, organizers had earlier neutralized the times 31 miles from the end, effectively giving Pogačar the victory — providing he crossed the finish line. He did the opposite of what almost every rider would do with victory a near certainty. As the rain teemed down, he set a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. 'Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong,' Pogačar said. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Élysées. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind, but then it was time to celebrate title No. 4. Don't expect Pogačar to make any headlines on that front. 'Everyone celebrates in their own way, I just want peace and some nice weather, not like here today,' Pogačar said. 'Just to enjoy some quiet days at home.' Advertisement Only four riders have won the showcase race five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Induráin, and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar won four stages this year to take his Tour tally to 21 and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta. The UAE Team Emirates leader praised his teammates. 'I think the second week was the decisive moment,' Pogačar said. 'We took more advantage.' Lipowitz, meanwhile, secured his first career podium at a Grand Tour, the alternative name given to the three major races. His performance, following his third-placed finish last month at the Critérium du Dauphiné, suggests the 24-year-old German rider could challenge in the near future. Traditionally, the last stage is largely processional with riders doing laps around Paris. The Tour broke with tradition after the success of the Paris Olympics road race, which also took in Montmartre, famous for its Sacré-Coeur basilica.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar wins the Tour de France for the fourth time
PARIS — Tadej Pogačar won his fourth Tour de France title by a comfortable margin after Sunday's final stage, which he tried to win even though he did not need to. The 26-year-old Slovenian rider won the Tour last year and in 2020 and 2021. 'Just speechless to win the Tour de France, this one feels especially amazing,' he said. 'Just super proud that I can wear this yellow jersey.' Two-time Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard finished the overall race 4 minutes, 24 seconds behind Pogačar in second place and Florian Lipowitz was 11 minutes adrift in third. Belgian rider Wout van Aert won the 21st and last stage, which broke with tradition and featured three climbs of Montmartre hill. Because of the risk of heavy rain and crashes, organizers had earlier decided to neutralize the times 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the end, effectively giving Pogačar the victory — but providing he crossed the finish line. Pogačar had no need to contest the stage win, especially given the danger of crashing on slick roads. Yet as the rain fell heavily, he showed his relentless thirst for victory and attacked anyway, setting a tremendous pace in the Montmartre climbs as fans cheered all along the cobbled Rue Lepic, with flags and fans hanging out of windows. Only five riders were left with Pogačar on the third ascension of the 1.1-kilometer Montmartre hill. After fending off American Matteo Jorgenson, he was caught cold near the top as Van Aert launched a stunning attack to drop — yes, drop! — Pogačar, the world's best climber, on the steepest section. 'Hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong,' Pogačar said. Van Aert rolled back down for a prestigious stage win on the famed Champs-Élysées. Pogačar looked weary as he crossed the line in fourth place, 19 seconds behind. But then it was time to celebrate title No. 4. Although don't expect Pogačar to make any headlines on that front. 'Everyone celebrates in their own way, I just want peace and some nice weather, not like here today,' Pogačar said. 'Just to enjoy some quiet days at home.' Only four riders have won the showcase race five times: Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Induráin and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault. Pogačar won four stages this year to take his Tour tally to 21 and 30 at major races, including six at the Giro d'Italia and three at the Spanish Vuelta. The UAE Team Emirates leader praised his teammates. 'I think the second week was the decisive moment,' Pogačar said. 'We took more advantage and went more comfortably into the third week.' Lipowitz, meanwhile, secured his first career podium at a Grand Tour, the alternative name given to the three major races. His performance, following his third-placed finish last month at the Critérium du Dauphiné, suggests the 24-year-old German rider could challenge in the near future. Traditionally, the last stage is largely processional with riders doing laps around Paris. The Tour broke with tradition after the success of the Paris Olympics road race, which also took in Montmartre, famous for its Sacré Coeur basilica. It was the fifth straight year where Pogačar and Vingegaard finished 1-2 at the Tour. Vingegaard was second in 2021, before beating Pogačar the next two years with the Slovenian second. When Pogačar reclaimed his title last year, Vingegaard was runner-up. 'We've raised the level of each other much higher and we push each other to the limit,' Pogačar said. 'I must say to him, big, big respect.' Pogačar has also won the Giro d'Italia, doing so last year to become the first cyclist to secure the Giro and Tour double in the same season since the late Marco Pantani in 1998. But Pogačar has not yet won the Spanish Vuelta, whereas Anquetil, Hinault and Merckx won all three major races. When Pogačar won the hilly fourth stage of this year's race, it was the 100th professional victory of his stellar career, all events combined. Pogačar is also the world road race champion. He warmed up for this year's Tour with a dominant victory at the Critérium continuing his excellent form the spring classics, where he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège for third time. After winning stage 4 of the Tour, Pogačar added three more stage wins, including an emphatic uphill time trial. He would love to win the Paris-Roubaix classic and Milan San-Remo. The 259.2-kilometer (161-mile) Roubaix race is called 'The Hell of the North' because of its dangerous cobblestone sections. Pogačar debut appearance at the one-day classic this year saw him seeking to become the first Tour champion to win it since Hinault in 1981. But powerful Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel won it for the third straight year. Pogačar has also yet to win Milan-San Remo, with Van der Poel also beating him there this year. Expect a fired-up Pogačar next year at Roubaix and Milan-San Remo. But it's unsure whether he'll tackle the Vuelta. Pugmire writes for the Associated Press.
