Pogacar takes UAE Tour climb to extend overall lead

JEBEL HAFEET: UAE Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar said his plans had gone perfectly after he took a major step toward victory in his team’s home cycling Tour, winning the first climbing stage on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) to strengthen his hold on the overall lead.

The Tour de France champion had already started the day in the leader’s red jersey and finished it by beating last year’s UAE Tour winner Adam Yates, who Pogacar forced into doing most of the grunt work in the finale.