emirates7 - Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates claimed his first-ever Critérium du Dauphiné title on Sunday by securing third place in the eighth and final stage.
The reigning world champion successfully fended off Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the decisive final climb, finishing just behind stage winner Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious).
Pogačar’s overall victory capped a stellar week for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who not only took three stage wins but also celebrated their 45th triumph of the season—an encouraging sign ahead of the upcoming Tour de France. His win also marked a historic milestone, making him the first world champion to claim the Dauphiné title since Bernard Hinault in 1981.
The final stage brought minimal changes to the general classification, as Pogačar and Vingegaard cemented their dominance. Meanwhile, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) vied for the final podium spot, and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) launched the day’s first major attack on the last climb.
Pogačar was backed by teammate Tim Wellens, who helped increase the tempo, while Martinez surged from a breakaway to Enric Mas and win the stage atop the Col du Mont-Cenis. Vingegaard launched a late attack with 6.6 kilometers remaining, but Pogačar matched his pace, with the two working together to widen the gap to their rivals.
In the final sprint, Vingegaard edged Pogačar for second place on the stage, but the Slovenian rider was satisfied to clinch the overall victory.
Reflecting on his performance, Pogačar said, “I remember how tough the 2020 Dauphiné was. Coming back in this kind of form right before the Tour de France feels amazing. It’s a huge morale boost for the whole team. Now it’s time to rest a little, focus on the time trial, and take things one step at a time as we prepare for the Tour.”
He added, “This weekend turned out even harder than expected, so I knew the comeback after the time trial wouldn’t be easy—but I’m really happy I pulled it off.”
The reigning world champion successfully fended off Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the decisive final climb, finishing just behind stage winner Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious).
Pogačar’s overall victory capped a stellar week for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who not only took three stage wins but also celebrated their 45th triumph of the season—an encouraging sign ahead of the upcoming Tour de France. His win also marked a historic milestone, making him the first world champion to claim the Dauphiné title since Bernard Hinault in 1981.
The final stage brought minimal changes to the general classification, as Pogačar and Vingegaard cemented their dominance. Meanwhile, Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) vied for the final podium spot, and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) launched the day’s first major attack on the last climb.
Pogačar was backed by teammate Tim Wellens, who helped increase the tempo, while Martinez surged from a breakaway to Enric Mas and win the stage atop the Col du Mont-Cenis. Vingegaard launched a late attack with 6.6 kilometers remaining, but Pogačar matched his pace, with the two working together to widen the gap to their rivals.
In the final sprint, Vingegaard edged Pogačar for second place on the stage, but the Slovenian rider was satisfied to clinch the overall victory.
Reflecting on his performance, Pogačar said, “I remember how tough the 2020 Dauphiné was. Coming back in this kind of form right before the Tour de France feels amazing. It’s a huge morale boost for the whole team. Now it’s time to rest a little, focus on the time trial, and take things one step at a time as we prepare for the Tour.”
He added, “This weekend turned out even harder than expected, so I knew the comeback after the time trial wouldn’t be easy—but I’m really happy I pulled it off.”