UAE: Tadej Pogacar showcased his dominance in the UAE Tour by sealing his overall victory with a remarkable solo win on the Jabel Hafeet mountain. The 26-year-old Slovenian, fresh off his historic triple triumph in the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and world championships in 2024, made his 2025 debut in commanding fashion. He attacked early on the final 10km climb, crossing the finish line 33 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. This victory reaffirmed his status as one of the world’s most formidable cyclists, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
Italian climber Giulio Ciccone of Lidl-Trek secured second place on both the stage and the overall classification, trailing Pogacar by 1 minute and 14 seconds. Spanish rider Pello Bilbao of Bahrain completed the podium, finishing third in the general classification. Pogacar had already demonstrated his superiority earlier in the race, securing a third-place finish in the time trial before winning the first mountain stage. His commanding performance throughout the week left little doubt about his supremacy in the race.
Competing for UAE Team Emirates, Pogacar celebrated his 90th career victory and expressed his focus on the upcoming one-day classics. He announced that he would not participate in any stage races until June, shifting his attention to the demanding spring classics. With his incredible consistency and aggressive racing style, Pogacar remains a favorite in every competition he enters. His ability to dominate both stage races and one-day events highlights his versatility and tactical brilliance.
Meanwhile, Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek emerged as a standout performer in the sprint stages, securing two stage wins and the overall points jersey. British rider Josh Tarling of Ineos led the young rider classification after his time trial victory but fell to 10th place overall on the final day. Ivan Romeo of Movistar took advantage of the mountain stage shake-up to claim the white jersey as the best young rider. The UAE Tour concluded with Pogacar reaffirming his dominance, setting the tone for another thrilling season in professional cycling.
