Pogacar: "Better alone than isolated"

A devastating display of strength, an attack from another era that already puts the race in jeopardy. Tadej Pogačar literally demolished the competition in the fourth stage of the 2026 Vuelta a España, completing a 50-kilometer solo effort in the rugged mountains of Andorra.

The Slovenian did not hide behind calculations and secured the red jersey, inflicting huge gaps on all his direct rivals for the general classification.

At the finish line, the Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates lucidly analyzed his move, explaining to the press the reasons that drove him so far from the finish line. "Better alone than isolated, we knew the Andorra stage would be extremely tough and tactically demanding. My decision to attack with 50 kilometers to go was born out of necessity: I couldn't risk being left isolated in the finale against blocks of opposing teams that could play off numerical superiority. In those situations, you risk being subjected to constant attacks and counterattacks without being able to respond to everyone. Attacking from afar allowed me to impose my own pace and manage the race on my own terms."

Despite such a long and demanding solo breakaway on the Pyrenean slopes, Pogačar appeared surprisingly fresh after the finish, downplaying the impact of accumulated fatigue ahead of the next three weeks of racing. "To be completely honest, I don't feel as exhausted as it might seem from the outside. When you're alone at the front, you can set exactly the pace you want, both on the climbs and on the downhill and flat sections, without the stress of having to respond to the sudden accelerations of others. I managed myself perfectly, fueled my body regularly, and I have to say, I even had a lot of fun along the way. My legs felt great."