Pogačar wins queen stage to double Giro lead
Tadej Pogačar. Photo: Ansa/STA
Slovenian cycling ace Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia in a savage finish to nearly double his lead in the general classification to 6 minutes and 42 seconds.
Pogačar attacked 15 km before the finish line after his team readied the terrain on the Foscagno pass. Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) tried to keep up but soon failed.
On the last hill Pogačar caught up to the leading Columbian Nairo Quintana (Movistar), the 2014 Giro winner. The Slovenian cyclist was able to overtake him, securing his 74th stage win and 11th this year. It is his fourth at his debut appearance at the Giro.
Quintana took second place in the stage, trailing Pogačar by 29 seconds. Germany's Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) was third, 2 minutes and 32 seconds behind.
"We had this stage in mind since December. It was a strong breakaway, but I gave it my all in the last 15 km," said Pogačar after the race. He praised his teammates for their good work, saying they had had to be smart all day and not let the breakaway cyclists get too far ahead.
"I'm happy to win the queen stage in Livigno, one of my favourite places in Italy," Pogačar added.
With one more week to go until the end of the race, Pogačar is now 6 minutes 42 seconds ahead of Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and a further 15 seconds ahead of Martinez.
After a rest day, the riders will take on another mountain stage from Livigno to Santa Caterina on 21 May.
