Cycling Star Tadej Pogacar Survives Scare To Win Another Vuelta Stage

Tadej Pogacar survived a heart-stopping scare on a high-speed descent before powering to his third stage victory in six days at the Spanish Vuelta, further tightening his grip on the race and his pursuit of cycling history.

The Slovenian superstar, riding for UAE Team Emirates, briefly went off the road after losing control of his bike on a sharp turn during the fast descent towards the finish in Castellón. For a moment, his Vuelta campaign appeared to be in danger, but Pogacar managed to slow down, stay upright and return to the road.

Once the scare was behind him, there was no stopping the defending Tour de France champion.

Pogacar eventually outsprinted Enric Mas of Movistar Team to win Thursday's sixth stage, adding to his victories in the opening stage and Tuesday's dominant fourth stage.

The latest triumph extended Pogacar's overall lead to 3 minutes and 34 seconds over Mas, while fellow Slovenian Primoz Roglic slipped to third place, more than four minutes behind the race leader.

Pogacar had launched a powerful attack with less than 25 kilometres remaining, dropping the rest of the field before Mas fought back to join him near the final summit. The two riders worked together towards the finish, but Pogacar once again proved too strong in the decisive moments.

The sixth stage featured a demanding mid-mountain route, including a dirt section on the final climb, before the treacherous descent into Castellón produced the day's biggest moment of drama.

The victory made Pogacar the first rider since Oscar Freire in 2007 to win three of the opening six stages of the Vuelta.

Already a three-time reigning and five-time Tour de France winner, Pogacar also won the Giro d'Italia in 2024. He is now chasing a place among the sport's elite as only the ninth male rider to win all three Grand Tours, the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

The Vuelta continues on Friday with a 149.8-km mountain stage, while the race is scheduled to conclude in Granada on September 13.

After six stages, Pogacar's message is becoming increasingly clear: even a terrifying moment off the road may not be enough to slow down cycling's most dominant rider.