Tadej Pogacar won the fourth stage in the Ruta del Sol on Saturday. The classification leader, who had already won the first and second stage, settled with Enric Mas in the final phase. Pogacar’s contemporary Tom Pidcock hit a double in the Tour of the Algarve.
Like the other stages in the Ruta del Sol, the fourth stage could also be called hilly. There were three tough climbs in the last 60 kilometers, while it was also uphill in the last kilometer.
Pogacar and Mas floated to the top on the cols, but the Slovenian and the Spaniard couldn’t take much distance. In the final phase there was still no measure on Pogacar, who left Mas behind with an impressive acceleration.
For Pogacar it means his fiftieth victory as a professional. The 24-year-old Slovenian won the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, the round in which he had to recognize his superior in Jonas Vingegaard last year.
The Ruta del Sol ends on Sunday with another stage in which the climbers have their turn. Classification leader Pogacar starts the final stage with a lead of 1.14 minutes on number two Mikel Landa. The Colombian Santiago Buitrago is third at 1.19 minutes from Pogacar.
Pidcock cheers in Tour of the Algarve
In the Tour of the Algarve, Pidcock triumphed in the fourth stage. The 23-year-old rider of Ineos Grenadiers proved to be the strongest on the steep climb of the Alto do Malhão, where the finish was, and also took over the leader’s jersey from Magnus Cort.
During the exciting final phase, Pidcock settled with the Portuguese João Almeida, who was one second behind. The Belgian Ilan Van Wilder of Soudal-QuickStep finished third in five seconds. Bauke Mollema was the best Dutchman: the veteran crossed the finish line eighth in twenty seconds.
Pidcock did not defend his title at the Cyclo-cross World Cup in Hoogerheide two weeks ago because he wanted to focus on the road season.
Just like the Ruta del Sol, the Tour of the Algarve is due for the final stage on Sunday: an individual time trial of 24.4 kilometers with start and finish in Lagoa. Pidcock then defends a five-second margin over Van Wilder.
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