Pogačar 'surprised' at total dominance

Slovenian blitzes competition in Vuelta a Andalucia

- Vern Pitt 

Superstar Tadej Pogačar professed himself to be surprised at his dominance at the Vuelta a Andalucia last week as he won three of the race’s five stages. 

Throughout the week the Slovenian seemed to be shocked at how far ahead of the competition he was. Having won stage one at an apparent canter he said, “I’m surprised a little bit, I knew I’m good but it is a surprise that I’ve won two races already,” referring to his near 40km solo victory at the Jaén Paraíso Interior (a sort of Spanish Strade Bianche), just two days earlier.

He’d echo that sentiment when he sat atop the podium at the end of the five days of racing in Spain, adding: “In this race I felt really strong and I hope I feel as strong for the next races.”

Whether he should have been as shocked is another question. The challengers to Pogačar in Andalucia were not, with all due respect, of the calibre he will likely face at the Tour, with Mikel Landa and Santiago Butrago, both of Bahrain Victorious, filling out the podium, and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) and Enric Mas (Movistar) making up the rest of the top five.

But Pogačar’s performance indicated that whatever opposition he faces in this form, he definitely is the man to beat this year as he rides a startling wave of success.