UEFA Conference League

This trio needs to work together if they want any chance of staving off the inevitable. Pogacar is passing the remnants of the break one by one – the latest two being Simmons and Romo, who shake their heads in disbelief as he juggernauts past.

Around 1’10” behind the yellow jersey, Seixas rides on the front of a chase group that also includes Del Toro, Evenepoel, Skjelmose, Prodhomme and Yates.

The Ecuadorian puts in a sustained out-of-the-saddle surge to hammer a nail into Kuss’ coffin but he’s unable to swot the Frenchman Martinez, who sticks to him like a fly. Pogacar is now only 1’50” down.

The both put in a medley of accelerations along with Martinez and that has kept the advantage at 2’30”. Pogacar now leaves Yates, who put in a solid shift there, and we might see the gap come tumbling down. He has about 40 seconds on the Seixas-Evenepoel group, with Ayuso almost two minutes back now.

Pogacar has joined his team-mate Yates, who was in the break. He’s now giving the yellow jersey a pull before sending him on his way.

Up ahead, Kuss puts in a dig to despatch Arensman and Romo. He has Carapaz and Martinez with him. Pog is 2’30” behind.