'The race is really wide open': Tadej Pogačar plotting another comeback against Primož Roglič
The 22-year-old scored his 22nd professional victory, 22 months after his first


Tadej Pogačar is aiming to once again come from behind to snatch victory from Primož Roglič after beating his fierce rival to win stage three of the Tour of the Basque Country.
In a thrilling finale, the young UAE-Team Emirates rider just got the better of his older Slovenian compatriot in the closing few hundred metres to take his third stage win of the season.
Large gains in the opening stage’s time trial for Jumbo-Visma’s Roglič means that he still holds a sizeable advantage in the general classification of 20 seconds to Pogačar, four less than before the day’s start, but with three hilly and difficult days to come Pogačar is in confident mood.
Aware that it was just seven months ago when he spectacularly took the Tour de France title off Roglič, 22-year-old Pogačar said: “I think the race is really wide open.
“Today I felt really good and I am super happy for the win. In the next days we will see how the other teams race but I think it’s really open.
“Four seconds [the time he clawed back today] is not a lot, but the gap is getting smaller.
“I am pretty happy for my form and shape and how things are going.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Stage four and stage six appear to represent the best chances for Pogačar to overtake Roglič in the final standings, and he hinted that he may go on the attack once more.
“There are three more hard days and tough finishes on each of the three stages,” he added.
“I expect it to be tough. But we are optimistic. I am looking forward to the next days.”
Pogačar had driven the brutally steep final climb of stage three before the day’s racing got underway, a reconnaissance that he believes aided him.
“In the morning we went up in the car so I expected the climb to be like what it was,” he said.
“I knew that at the finish I needed to be at the top before the descent into the finish. We knew what to expect and that was super important.
“It was a super-hard climb and I was putting everything in. I am super happy to win in front of crazy and fantastic fans.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
FDJ-Suez, SD Worx-Protime, Lidl-Trek confirmed for Tour of Britain Women as strong list of teams announced
18 teams set to take part in four-day WorldTour stage race
By Tom Thewlis
-
Cyclists could face life sentences for killing pedestrians if new law passed in England and Wales
Reckless cycling currently carries a maximum two-year jail term
By Tom Thewlis
-
'It's scary to see how much better he is' - Tadej Pogačar conquers all at the Tour of Flanders
The world champion won by a minute after a decisive attack on the Oude Kwaremont
By Adam Becket
-
Tadej Pogačar storms to fourth consecutive Il Lombardia victory after 48km solo breakaway
World Champion beats Remco Evenepoel by more than three minutes after devastating attack on the Colma di Sormano
By Tom Thewlis
-
'The chance is there': Tadej Pogačar builds World Championships form with dominant GP Montréal victory
Slovenian full of 'confidence and motivation' after winning final warm up race before Zurich
By Tom Thewlis
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis
-
'Four months ago I was in the ICU': Jay Vine wins for the first time since suffering spinal fractures in Itzulia horror crash
Australian suffered serious injuries in the Itzulia Basque Country incident
By Tom Thewlis
-
A UAE Emirates Tour de France podium clean sweep is a real possibility
Adam Yates, Tadej Pogačar and João Almeida are all hitting form at the perfect time with the Florence Grand Départ fast approaching
By Tom Thewlis
-
Meet Vegard Stake Laengen, Tadej Pogačar's right-hand man at Grand Tours
The Norwegian bodyguard has been present in each of the Slovenian's Tour de France participations, and is now at the Giro d'Italia, too
By Adam Becket
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis