Iván Romeo offered a blunt and humorous assessment of Tadej Pogacar’s absolute dominance at the Vuelta a España, noting that the race essentially ended the moment the Slovenian star launched his attack on the Collada de Beixalís. According to Spanish rider Iván Romeo, the peloton quickly realized the futility of chasing the UAE Team Emirates leader once he opened a gap during the opening mountain stage.
The Decisive Attack on the Collada de Beixalís
The 81st Vuelta a España delivered its first major high-mountain test over a 104,8-kilometer route starting and finishing in Andorra la Vella. Approximately 50 kilometers into the stage, Pogacar accelerated on the climb up the Collada de Beixalís, leaving every rival behind in a solo move that turned the stage into a runaway victory, as reported by event sources. The performance renewed Pogacar’s historic ties to Andorra, where he secured his first-ever Vuelta stage win at Cortals d’Encamp back in 2019.
Pogacar crossed the finish line to take the overall race lead by a wide margin. A chase group featuring Widar, Gall, Onley, Kuss, Enric Mas, and Primož Roglič finished 2 minutes and 39 seconds behind, while Richard Carapaz crossed the line 2 minutes and 57 seconds adrift, according to race results.
Peloton Realities and the Chase Group Strategy
Reflecting on the exhibition, Romeo admitted that the peloton did not anticipate such an aggressive move so early in the mountains. “Creo que también Pogacar nos ha puesto a todos en nuestro sitio, que tarde o temprano iba a pasar, así que nada,” Romeo said, describing the realization that the race leader operates on an entirely different level. He added that the group of chasers quickly banded together for survival and pacing: “Luego ya los hemos ido juntando ahí todos los amigos porque con el loco tampoco sabes cuánto vas a ir fuera de control y cuantos más seamos más seguros estamos, así que no, guardando fuerzas para lo que viene.”
Before Pogacar’s decisive attack, the Decathlon-AG2R team forced a punishing pace on the preceding climbs, preventing early breakups and setting a high threshold from the start. Romeo noted that his team initially planned to join the breakaway, but the speed from the starting flag left zero margin for moves.
Enric Mas and the Battle for the Podium
Enric Mas emerged as the top-performing Spanish rider of the day, finishing within the primary chase group to secure third place in the general classification. The Movistar Team rider acknowledged the reality of the race hierarchy while maintaining a positive outlook on his own form. “Peleamos por el segundo puesto, por el podio, esa es la realidad,” Mas said. “Por mi parte no pude sacar segundos, pero estoy muy contento con las sensaciones. El equipo estuvo de 10, hizo un gran trabajo, el Decathlon puso un ritmo muy duro y supimos estar delante.”
While recognizing that Pogacar competes in a separate class, Mas emphasized that his focus remains on his own performance and managing what he can control within the group of contenders. “Siempre se comenta que luchamos en el grupo de los mortales, pero siempre es lo mismo. Pogacar es el mejor, pero nosotros nos centramos en nuestra actuación,” Mas stated, leaving room for unpredictable developments as the three-week grand tour progresses.
What Comes Next in the Vuelta
With Pogacar firmly entrenched in the red jersey and holding a commanding advantage over the rest of the field, the competitive focus of the Vuelta a España has shifted entirely toward the remaining steps of the podium. Riders will look toward the upcoming mountain stages to test their legs and contest second and third place.
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