Pogačar wins UAE Tour third time around
Dubai, 23 February - Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) won his third UAE Tour around the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, after winning it in 2021 and 2022, opening the racing season of 2025 in the best possible way. He won today's mountain stage of 176 kilometres to Mount Jebel Haafet with a 7.6km solo move.
Nice, France
Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar, three-time winner of UAE Tour, three-time winner of Tour de France and winner of Giro d'Italia.
Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA
File photo
Pogačar also won stage three to Mount Jebel Jais on Wednesday while placing third in the time trail, paving the way for the overall victory before the final stage.
He did well in the strong crosswinds in the first half of today's route, joined the leading group of 30 riders, and finished if off confidently on the final climb to Jebel Haafet (10.8 km/6.7%) to register his 90th and 91st career victories.
Italy's Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) finished the last stage second, 33 seconds behind the winner, and Spain's Pello Bilbao (Bahrain-Victorious) third, 35 seconds behind.
Overall, Pogačar finished the UAE Tour 1:14 minutes before Ciccone and 1:19 minutes before Bilbao.
In a statement for the tour's organisers, Pogačar said that he was thrilled with "a really good day".
Asked why he went solo some 8km before the finish, he said he did it when he was left without two colleagues who are not ascent specialists.
He said the two did what they could, and since he did not want any surprises or counterattacks, he decided to go to the top "at my own pace".
Pogačar's next race will be in two weeks when he is defending his victory in the Strade Bianche, a one-day race in Tuscany, Italy.
The other two Slovenians in the EAE tour, Domen Novak (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Luka Mezgec (Jayco AlUla), were not in today's leading group of some 40 riders who attacked some 50 kilometres into the stage in a crosswind.