Cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar has won the opening stage of the 81st Vuelta a España by the narrowest of margins. The five-time Tour winner from Slovenia triumphed in the short 9.4-kilometre individual time trial in his adopted home of Monaco, finishing nine hundredths of a second ahead of Britain’s Ethan Hayter. This means the exceptional rider is wearing the red jersey of the Vuelta a España leader for the first time in his career. The best-placed German was Lennard Kämna in 21st place (+21 seconds).
Pogacar has yet to secure an overall victory in the Vuelta a España. The 27-year-old dominates the sport of cycling in a way that, before him, perhaps only the Belgian legend Eddy Merckx did. Five Tour victories, two world championship titles, a triumph at the Giro d’Italia and numerous classics wins feature on Pogacar’s long list of achievements. At the end of the 3,275-kilometre Vuelta, he aims to stand at the top of the podium in the final stage in Granada. Should he succeed, Pogacar would have won all three Grand Tours.
Josh Tarling is racing in memory of his brother, who died in an accident
The most emotional start of the day was for Josh Tarling (+4 seconds), who finished third. The 22-year-old was in the lead at one stage and was riding in memory of his brother Finlay, who had passed away just eight days earlier. The 19-year-old was killed in an accident last Friday during the Tour of Portugal. According to reports, the Welshman was struck by a vehicle not involved in the race during the eighth stage. The vehicle is said to have been travelling in the opposite direction to the peloton on the course.
A few days after his brother’s tragic accident, the family also announced the death of Joshua’s grandfather.
The longest stage of the Vuelta takes place on Sunday
On Sunday, Pogacar and his team face the longest stage of this year’s Vuelta. The demanding 214.3-kilometre route, with 3,300 metres of climbing, runs from Monaco to the small French town of Manosque.
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