The 2020 and 2021 Tour de France winner from UAE Team Emirates took the stage win after 156.1 kilometres between Diezma and Alacala la Real ahead of Enric Mas (Movistar) and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious). Pogacar, who had already won the Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior and on Wednesday the 1st stage of the Ruta del Sol also extended his lead in the overall standings of the Tour of Andalusia with his success on stage 2.
Breakaway group with Zimmermann on stage 2 of the Ruta del Sol
For a long time, the race was dominated by a leading group, which included the German Georg Zimmermann (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty). On the penultimate climb of the day to the Puerto de la Hoya de Charilla, the group fell apart and was joined by the peloton.
There, Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) challenged Tadej Pogacar. The overall leader of the Ruta del Sol was alert and immediately parried the Basque rider's attack and even overtook him a little later. Shortly before the summit, Pogacar also caught up with the last breakaway riders around Zimmermann. However, Landa was able to catch up with Pogacar and some of the other favourites on the following descent.
Pogacar with a decisive start
The lead group now consisted of nine riders, who tackled the final climb to the finish together. 900 metres before the finish, Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) opened the finale with an attack, but was unable to get away. The decisive attack came from Pogacar 150 metres before the finish, when he left his last companion, Enric Mas, behind and continued his winning streak.
Ruta del Sol 2023 - Result 2nd stage
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 3:40:10
- Enric Mas (Movistar) +0:04
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:04
- Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:04
- Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:04
- Lorenzo Rota (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty) +0:17
- Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech) +0:21
- Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:24
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:33
- Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) +0:46
The overall standings of the Ruta del Sol
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 8:44:19
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:48
- Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) +0:52
- Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos Grenadiers) +0:52
- Enric Mas (Movistar) +1:47
- Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:12
- Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious) +2:22
- Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) +2:51
- Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers) +2:52
- Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious) +2:52
On Friday, the Ruta del Sol continues with stage 3, which leads over 161 kilometres from Alcala de Guadaira to Alcala de los Gazules.
