Pogačar back with a bang in Jaén

JAÉN, SPAIN, 14th February, 2023 (WAM) — The first race of the season for Tadej Pogačar had the same victorious result of his last appearance on the roads in 2022 (Il Lombardia).

The Slovenian from the UAE Team Emirates has won the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior, from Ubeda and arrival in Baeza after 178.9 km, with 42 km of gravel roads.

When there were less than 44 km to go and the race was led by Sergio Samitier (Movistar), Pogačar attacked for the first time, causing the reaction from 7 riders, amongst whom there were two other riders from the Emirati team, namely Marc Hirschi and Tim Wellens.

The captain from the UAE Team Emirates bridged over the gap to Samitier, forming a leading duo after the end of the fourth sector of gravel roads.

With 1’40” of advantage in the approach of the final sector of gravel road, Pogačar had no problem in changing the bike at 8,1 km to go because of a flat rear tyre and in resuming his winning path to the arrival for a solo victory with 58” of advantage on Ben Turner (2nd, Ineos Grenadiers) and Tim Wellens (3rd). The amazing day of the Emirati team was completed by the 4th place by Marc Hirschi 8+1’19″.

Pogačar said, “It was, in the end, perfect teamwork, and we had a really good gameplan in the end, I managed to stay alone until the finish which gives me a big boost for the start of the season. It was the plan to attack there. The team put us in a perfect position. It was just as we planned. It was perfect.”