Tadej Pogačar keeps his cards close before the Vuelta gravel stage: 'I'd better not say anything about it'

Tadej Pogac3ar came through the fifth stage of the Vuelta a España just fine. The Slovenian rider from UAE Emirates-XRG and his team didn’t really have to exert themselves in the stage won by Matthew Brennan, although things did get a bit hectic along the way with a potential echelon. Afterward, Pogacar shared his thoughts.

"It was still a tough stage. We had it well under control as a team, so I'm really happy with how things went today. It was pretty nerve-wracking at times, and the climb was quite steep. It was just a tough day, but as a team we did really well, and I’m happy with today,” concluded the red jersey wearer.

On the final climb, the UAE Emirates-XRG riders managed to position themselves at the front. “Definitely. You never know what’s happening at the back, and it’s always a lot more nerve-wracking there. We took the lead, and the guys did a fantastic job,” Pogacar said, praising his support riders in the Vuelta a España.

Next, it was Matthew Brennan’s turn to win the stage, bringing the score to 2-2 between Pogacar and the young Brit from Visma | Lease a Bike. “Hats off to all those young guys. The Vuelta is always a great race for up-and-coming talent. It’s great to see so many talented riders coming up,” said Pogacar, who himself broke through in the Vuelta in 2019.

One of those talented riders is also on his own team: Pablo Torres. “He’s a really, really great rider. But to be honest, I think he’s even better as a person: a really great guy, incredibly humble. I really wished him the very best for this Vuelta and for the rest of his career, because he works incredibly hard for it. He’s just a gem of a guy,” Pogacar says warmly.

On Thursday, a tricky gravel stage awaits, featuring a tough climb (on gravel) in the pre-final. “Every advantage counts, as I always say. The more time you gain, the better. With a bigger lead, you can simply head into the coming days with a clearer head. We’ll see. I feel good, and tomorrow is already going to be another tough day,” he says, keeping his cards close to his chest.

He also responded to the flash interviewer’s final question: “How does your form compare to how you were riding in the Tour?” “I’d rather not say anything about that!” Pogacar replied with a smile.