Tadej Pogacar's show continues at the Vuelta

CASTELLO (SPA) – Tadej Pogacar edged out Enric Mas (Movistar) in Castello to claim his third stage win at the Vuelta a España. The Slovenian superstar equaled his 2019 haul, when he stunned the world with an impressive debut at the Giro d'Italia in Spain. But this year, he's proven far more dominant, wearing the red jersey from day one following his opening victory in Monaco. In 2019, his first victory came on stage 9 and his third on stage 20. This time, he's won three of the first six stages, a feat not seen since Oscar Freire in 2007. The Slovenian icon had broken away from the pack with 24 kilometers to go, but was caught by Mas just before the final climb of the day. The day's two strongest climbers worked together until the finale, where Pogacar launched the decisive attack, becoming the first rider to win three stages in the early stages of the course since Oscar Freire in 2007. Mas is now second in the general classification (+3'34’), ahead of Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), who is chasing him at 4'21”.