The Slovenian moved from the top spot to the amazing Belgian Wout Van Aert. Sergio Higuita came third and Nairo Quintana fifth, the same positions they were in the overall standings.
The fourth stage of the Adriatic Tyrrhenian was spectacular, in which the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar won and took the lead, ahead of the Belgian Wout Van Aert, who defended himself from the attacks of several born climbers, between they the Colombians Egan Bernal, Nairo Quintana and Sergio Higuita, but in the end he succumbed to the champion of the Tour de France 2020.
In the final part of the race, Pogacar, recent winner of the UAE Tour, showed his great moment and reached the finish line alone, while British Simon Yates was his escort. Sergio Higuita was third, Mikel Landa fourth and Nairo Quintana fifth. A little further back, because he took off in the last repetition, came Egan Bernal.
Pogacar, of the UAE Emirates team, dealt a major blow by winning the queen stage of the two-sea race, a mountain route between Terni and Prati di Tivo, over 148 kilometers.
The 22-year-old Slovenian prodigy is leading by 35 seconds over Belgian Wout Van Aert, who started the day in first place. The reigning world champion, the Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, third overall at the start of the day, suffered in the final climb and finished one minute and 45 seconds behind Pogacar.
Read also: Primož Roglič dominates Paris-Nice
After a lively start to the stage with five breakaways, the final ascent to Prati di Tivo (14.5 km at 7% on average) sparked a battle between the winners of the last three Tours; Geraint Thomas (2018), Egan Bernal (2019) and Pogacar. The Slovenian left no choice to his rivals, despite the return of Yates, who finished six seconds behind the winner.
For Colombia the day was positive because in addition to the good shot of Higuita, who had finished fourth on Friday, Nairo Quintana managed to stay with the favorites and Egan Bernal, although he gave way, attacked seven kilometers from the final. “This year I’m going to live with the pain, you have to touch the ground with your feet, you have to know that it’s a very complicated injury (from which he recovers in his back). On the one hand, I want to be optimistic, but on the other hand, I want to be realistic, “said the 2019 Tour champion.