The world’s number one cyclist returned to racing early. Tadej Pogačar already participated in the one-day race Po Toskana, where he was in a winning attack, but he ran out of power and water, and in the end he won a sprint for fourth place.
The 95th Tour of Tuscany was decided by the second climb to Monte Serra (9.3 km with 6.6%). A good kilometer below the summit, Pavel Sivakov pressed, Richard Carapaz could follow him, but Tadej Pogačar could not.
After that, Pogačar and his teammate Felix Grossschartner tried to catch the leading duo, but the Slovenian champion ran out of drink and had to return to the team vehicle in the hot weather. In the end, as a consolation, Pogačar won a three-way sprint for fourth place, where the Slovenian national champion beat the winner of this year’s Race around Slovenia, Filippo Zana, and teammate Davide Formol. Austrian Grossschartner won third place for UAE Emirates.
The fight for victory was decided by the attack of the Russian French a good kilometer before the finish line. Sivakov got rid of Carapaz with acceleration and celebrated his fifth career victory in Pontedera, his first in one-day races. Sivakov will be Pogačar’s assistant next season, as he signed a contract with UAE Emirates.
In the traditional race, Gal Glivar made his debut in the Emirates jersey, who will spend the rest of the season as an apprentice cyclist in the leading team of the world series. The young Nove Meščan did not finish the race around Tuscany.
A new challenge awaits Pogačar already on Thursday – the 71st Coppa Sabatini. Both races are the first preparations for the main goal of the fall – the Po Lombardia monument, where he defends his victory last year and the year before.
Source: Rtvslo
