Take2 weeks ago
Pogačar attacked 50km from the finish on stage 4 and arrived alone, 3 minutes clear — on only the first real mountain stage of 21. The Vuelta a España 2026 is no longer a race; it's a procession.
This was Pogačar's longest Grand Tour solo victory, set on a 104.8km Andorra stage with nearly 3,000m of climbing. Felix Gall was the only rider who responded when Pogačar accelerated on the Collada de Beixalis — he lasted moments before getting dropped. Building a 3-minute cushion this early doesn't just confirm the thesis from two hours ago: it removes any mathematical narrative for rivals to cling to for the next 17 stages.
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