Pogačar Retains Yellow After 2Nd Place In Time Trial

(MENAFN- Dubai PR Network) Ulissi wins stage in Austria and takes over GC lead

Only the time trial World Champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) covered the course faster than Tadej Pogačar during the 25,3 km against the clock from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin at the Tour de France.

The UAE Team Emirates captain completed his performance in 29'04' (average speed of 52,2 km/h), while the Belgian rider marked the time of 28'52'.

Pogačar succeeded in pedalling with an effective pace, covering perfectly the only downhill of the course, so he could finish off a better performance than other GC contenders such as Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora, +22') and Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a bike, +25'). Eight places went to Joao Almeida (+57').

General classification after the time trial stage: Tadej still leader with 33' on Evenepoel and 1'15' on Vingegaard; other UAE Team Emirates riders in the top 10 are Ayuso (5th at 2'16') and Almeida (6th at 2'17').

Stage 8 will bring the peloton on a 183,4 km hilly course from Semur en Auxois to Colombey les Deux Eglises.

Pogačar : 'I started my time trial pretty well, feeling very good legs, and then went pretty hard on the climb. I think I was a bit too cooked at its summit, and that affected me towards the final. I didn't know the exact gaps, but I got some nice encouraging words from the team car.

I am pretty happy that I crossed the finish line in the position I did. I already did two good time trials at the Giro, yet I rate this performance somehow higher as I only lost to the current World Champion by just a few seconds and was still above some tough guys like Primoz [Roglic] and Jonas [Vingegaard]. I think the TT in Nice should be nice for me too, as I know the roads quite well. Last year I lost 1'40' to Jonas and today I've beaten him by 25' – that's pretty good. But Remco showed pretty good shape, too. I hope I can put some time on him in the coming stages.'

Tour de France, Stage 7 Results

1. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) 28'52'

2. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) +12'

3. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora) +34'

Tour de France, GC after Stage 7

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 27h16'23'

2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) +33'

3. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a bike) +1'15'

Diego Ulissi obtained his 47th career victory on stage 3 of the Tour of Austria, Schladming-St Johann Alpendorf (153,1 km).

On the short but pretty steep final hill (2,5 km at 6,5%), the UAE Team Emirates rider displayed his skills that allowed him to precede Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) and teammate Felix Grossschartner (3rd), after a two-rider breakaway had been neutralized at 2 km to the arrival.

Thanks to the victory, Ulissi became the new leader of the GC with 1' on Sheffield: he will wear the leader jersey in stage 4, St. Johann Alpendorf-Kals, 151,7 km with the HC climb of Fuscher Torl (17,5 km at 8,8%) in in the middle of the course.

Ulissi : 'I'm very happy with this win. It wasn't originally even on my program to be here in Austria but I've been training really well these past weeks and knew my condition was good. Today was a finish that suited my characteristics and thanks to the help of my teammates , in particular Felix and Jan we managed to pull of the win. We'll aim to take the yellow jersey home in the team over the remaining stages.'

Tour of Austria, Stage 3 Results

1. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 3h45'04'

2. Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) +3'

3. Felix Grossschartner (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Tour of Austria, GC after Stage 3

1. Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) 11h34'08'

2. Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) +1'

3. Brandon Rivera (Ineos Grenadiers) +2'

MENAFN06072024003092003082ID1108412187