UAE Team Emirates (Portugal) - 20-year-old of UAE Team Emirates conquered the Volta ao Algarve.

Tadej Pogačar seals the overall in the Volta ao Algarve, surviving the last and difficult stage to Malhão.

After 173.5km, the stage ended with a three-kilometre climb. Pogačar led the race after winning stage two and finished it with a sixth in the final stage today, 18 seconds behind Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and 15 seconds from his most dangerous rival Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb) – second in the overall.

Pogačar took the top podium spot (photo Bettini) with 14 seconds on Kragh Andersen and 21 on Wout Poels.

“I knew that it would be a difficult day, the stage was raced at high speeds and my direct rivals launched attacks for the overall,” said Pogačar “I had great support from all of my team-mates, who worked at the front to the group to give 100%. When the attacks started, I saw that I had fresh helpers at my side, this was a big morale boost in addition to a big concrete advantage. I’m proud of all of my team-mates.

I achieved a dream today. And to win a stage race so early in my professional career is hard to believe. I began without thinking of the overall, but after the crash in the first stage that ruled out the designated captains, I found myself at the front and the stage win gave me the yellow jersey. My team-mates’ support reinforced my belief and my place at the front“.

Stage 5 results:

1. Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-Quick Step) 4h13’48”

2. Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) 3″

6. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 18″

Final overall classification:

1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 19h26’34”

2. Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) 14″

3. Wout Poels (Team Sky) 21″