Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), with a great solo exhibition, imposed the law recognizing him as number one in the cycling world to win the Golden Olive as the winner of the II edition of the Jaén Paraíso Interior Classic, contested between the World Heritage Cities of Úbeda and Jaén with a distance of 179 km, the “sterrato” race of Spanish cycling.
A giant like Pogacar opened his 2023 season with a victory. The two-time winner of the Tour de France was the big favorite and lived up to expectations in his first adventure in Jaén. He led and ordered the race with his team and finished solo in Baeza with a time of 4h36.37, averaging 38km/h on a route that included 7 stretches of unpaved roads over a total of 50km.
Pogacar (Komena, 24 years old) enjoyed his debut. With time for fun, he crossed the finish line, cheering the crowd, smiling from ear to ear, and happy to be reunited with glory. He passed Britain’s Ben Turner (Ineos) and last year’s second Belgian UAE teammate Tim Wellens by 58 seconds. In a second group, another UAE, the Swiss Marc Hisrchi, came in 1.15. The first Spaniard was Gorka Izagirre (Movistar), ninth in Baza.
SAMITIER LAUNCHED A STERILE ORDAGE
The formation of the breakaway was difficult but it was eventually formed before reaching Sierra Mágina with 5 riders including Barbastro rider Sergio Samitier (Movistar) opting for the solo adventure as he entered the race in the final 45 km, where the most complicated sectors of the country began.
The Aragonese was intent on giving his team another win on the day as the team got off to a bright start thanks to Matteo Jorgenson’s win and leadership in Oman. The Aragonese left the group and came in with a lead of 2.30 minutes on the gravel section Antonio Machado (3.5 km).
The party looked good for the phone crew, but they had the Pogacar Festival, which saw the Liege winner start far from the finish. In the poet’s sector, he began to remain violently alone in pursuit and in an instant, blow by blow, pedal by pedal, to catch the Spanish cyclist, equally condemned by the wheel of the double champion of the Tour de France. Until it burst, a matter of a few miles.
In the “sterrato” sector of Cruz de Jaboneros (4.2 km), Pogacar was already unchained, persistent, subjecting Samitier to hard punishments in the middle of the cloud of dust, looking for the first step by Baeza, sunny and cool awaits the world heritage city to receive the team of the Jaen Classic.
On the “Atalaya del Guadalquivir”, 35 minutes from the finish, the race already had an owner. Pogacar destroyed Samitier, and among the group of pursuers, the Slovene had two luxury escorts who checked every hostile move towards their boss. Marc Hirschi and Tim Wellens put the lock on a celebrated victory.
POGACAR AND UAE FESTIVAL
Everything under control. There were two laps to go in a final circuit that included the Virgen de la Salud sector, a 6.5km pass that ended the 48km “sterrato” in total. Pogacar heard the bell of the last lap with a lead of 1.43 minutes. Last effort to close the first adventure of the season and open the 2023 season with a win.
A sort of quality training for Pogacar, who, with a superior attitude, was able to painlessly fix a puncture 8 from the finish line, with complete peace of mind thanks to the comfortable lead he had over 9 chasers, unable to smooth out differences.
New bike and ride. Pogacar regained his rhythm and flew into a rage looking for the last line. Ben Turner and Tim Wellens jumped behind the chasing group and battled for the silver medal, which ultimately went to the British.
Pogacar raised his arms on Paseo Antonio Machado de Baeza. Monumental demonstration of the number 1 of the UCI world ranking, persistent, true to his style. La Clásica de Jaén hired him at the last minute and he did not disappoint. He gave away an exhibition of a No. 1. In his first race of the year. Next appointment, the Tour of Andalusia. His rivals already know he’s coming in shape. EFE.
Source: El heraldo
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
