Tadej Pogačar Dominates Vuelta a España: Hail, Attacks, and a Growing Lead
Tadej Pogačar continues to make headlines in the cycling world, and his recent performances at the Vuelta a España have captured the attention of fans and media alike. The Slovenian superstar, already a five-time Tour de France winner, has shown no signs of slowing down as he leads the Spanish Grand Tour with an impressive margin. Despite a chaotic third stage that was halted due to a sudden hailstorm, Pogačar has maintained his composure and extended his lead, proving once again why he is considered one of the greatest cyclists of his generation.
During the third stage, the race was thrown into turmoil when a severe hailstorm forced organizers to stop the proceedings. Pogačar, who was leading at the time, saw the stage abandoned, but the incident did little to disrupt his momentum. In the following stage, he launched a devastating attack on the Collada de Beixalis climb with 50 kilometers remaining, quickly distancing himself from his rivals. By the time he reached the summit of the Coll d’Ordino, he had built a lead of nearly three minutes, which he maintained on the descent to finish the day with a commanding overall advantage of 3 minutes and 21 seconds.
The race has also seen intense duels, particularly with Wout van Aert, who attacked late in the stage, forcing Pogačar to respond. As Pogačar himself noted, “When Wout goes, you have to react,” and he did just that, retaining the red jersey for a second consecutive day. Meanwhile, the chasing group saw a spirited battle for the minor podium places, with Jarno Widar, a 20-year-old Belgian, impressing by winning the sprint for second in Andorra la Vella. The GC contenders, including Gall and Oscar Onley, tried to assert themselves but were ultimately caught, highlighting Pogačar’s dominance.
Off the road, Pogačar has been in the spotlight for other reasons. A Dutch journalist recently informed him of his record on Alpe d’Huez, a moment that caught the champion by surprise. As he shifts his focus toward the World Championships in Montreal, Pogačar remains enigmatic about his plans,
Shimanta Das 
