In another feat, as we are accustomed to in the 103rd edition of the Catalan round, Tadej Pogacar won the sixth stage of the Volta a Catalunya 2024, escorted by Colombian Egan Bernal, who climbed to third place in the overall individual classification.
The UAE Team Emirates leader attacked with 25 kilometers to go, achieving his third victory of the week. The Slovenian was followed by Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Spaniard Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step), second and third, respectively, 57 seconds behind the winner.
The penultimate day, with a hilly 154.7-kilometer route between Berga and Queralt, featured five climbs, one of them out of category and two of first.
After the start we quickly received an attack from two riders. Bauke Mollema (Lidl-Trek) and Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EasyPost) joined forces and went ahead. However, the two strong climbers never pulled away, as UAE Team Emirates rode at a fast pace throughout the day. On the Coll de Pradell, the final category climb, Tadej Pogacar’s men were supported by Visma.
Later, on the Coll de Pradell, Mollema and Carthy were caught, more than 60 kilometers from the finish. The last few meters of this demanding climb, which were terribly steep, turned into a real knockout race.
Steven Kruiswijk impressed on the difficult climb, but eventually made sure that his own teammates, Sepp Kuss and Cian Uijtdebroeks, had to slow down. As a result, UAE took over again. It was not the lieutenants who did so, but Tadej Pogacar himself. The Slovenian seemed to be playing with the pedals again and made sure his competitors didn’t dare – or could – attack.
Then it was the turn of Movistar, who accelerated the pace of the group of favorites with Colombian Ivan Ramiro Sosa, who ended up selecting the race and opened the way for Pogacar to solo again 25 kilometers from the finish.
Behind, Mikel Landa was in charge of the chase, which had in Egan Bernal a great ally. The beetle joined the Spaniard and together they kept Enric Mas at bay. But at a considerable distance from Pogacar, who seemingly rode without slipping to his third win of the week. The Slovenian won with a comfortable lead. Bernal won the sprint for second place over Landa.
With one day to go in the Vuelta a Catalunya, Pogacar has a more than reassuring lead in the general classification. Landa is his closest pursuer, although close is not the right word. He is more than three minutes behind him. Meanwhile, Egan Bernal took the third step of the podium.
The 103rd edition of the Catalan round will end this Sunday with its seventh stage, a partial leg-breaker with the traditional route through the streets of Barcelona of 145.3 kilometers, which includes seven mountain passes, six of second category.
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2024 (2.UWT)
Results Stage 6 | Berga – Queralt (154,7 km)
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | 4:11:53 |
| 2 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 0:57 |
| 3 | Mikel Landa | Soudal Quick-Step | ,, |
| 4 | Enric Mas | Movistar Team | 2:14 |
| 5 | Chris Harper | Team Jayco AlUla | 2:16 |
| 6 | Antonio Tiberi | Bahrain – Victorious | ,, |
| 7 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates | 2:18 |
| 8 | Lenny Martinez | Groupama – FDJ | ,, |
| 9 | Lorenzo Fortunato | Astana Qazaqstan Team | 2:34 |
| 10 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 2:38 |
Ranking General
| 1 | Tadej Pogačar | UAE Team Emirates | 25:06:16 |
| 2 | Mikel Landa | Soudal Quick-Step | 3:31 |
| 3 | Egan Bernal | INEOS Grenadiers | 4:53 |
| 4 | Aleksandr Vlasov | BORA – hansgrohe | 5:46 |
| 5 | Enric Mas | Movistar Team | 5:51 |
| 6 | Chris Harper | Team Jayco AlUla | ,, |
| 7 | Lenny Martinez | Groupama – FDJ | 5:52 |
| 8 | Antonio Tiberi | Bahrain – Victorious | 6:23 |
| 9 | João Almeida | UAE Team Emirates | ,, |
| 10 | Lorenzo Fortunato | Astana Qazaqstan Team | 7:17 |
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico