Gall sees chance for Pogacar to give away red as Vuelta leader keeps stage 6 plans open
Felix Gall believes (Decathlon CMA CGM) stage 6 could be a good opportunity for the race leader to strategically relinquish the red jersey for a couple of days.
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The Austrian anticipates a breakaway could take the spoils on stage 6 of the Vuelta a España, with the Austrian also suggesting Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) could even relinquish the red jersey on Thursday.
The 177.5km stage from Alcossebre to Castelló features four classified climbs and more than 3,000 metres of elevation gain, with the biggest challenge coming late on the Puerto El Bartolo.
The 9.4km climb averages 7.1% and includes a 1.9km gravel section at almost 12%, before a descent and flat run-in to the finish.
“I think it will be a breakaway day,” Gall told media including Domestique before the stage. “And the question is also, maybe, will he [Pogačar] give his red jersey away today to make it a bit easier for a few days on his teammates? Yeah, we will see, but I expect a breakaway.”
“I think today could be a good day [to give away the red jersey],” he added.
Pogačar has already given away a Grand Tour leader’s jersey this season. At the Tour de France in July, Pogačar and UAE gifted away the yellow jersey on stage 4 to Torstein Træen (Uno-X Mobility), who would wear it for two stages before Pogačar shattered the race on the Col du Tourmalet.
The world champion's current Vuelta lead is far more substantial than it was during the Tour, thanks to his commanding 50km solo victory in Andorra on stage 4. He holds a 3:21 lead over Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) after five stages, with potential breakaway candidates further back in the standings.
Pogačar himself was giving little away before the start when asked whether the Puerto El Bartolo and the gravel section represented an opportunity or a risk.
“I don’t know. I don’t have an opinion on that. We’ll have to see after the stage. It lends itself to attacks," Pogačar told media including TV2 Sport.
He also kept his cards close to his chest with regard to whether the stage would suit UAE to control or whether a breakaway would succeed.
“It depends on how the breakaway shapes up. Of course, you never give anything away. It’s a very tough final climb, so it’s also an opportunity in the general classification, and we’ll have to see,” he said.
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