Tadej Pogacar sprinted to an impressive fourth stage victory of the week as he sealed his Tour of Catalonia triumph on Sunday.
The Slovenian two-time Tour de France champion edged a chaotic sprint to take stage seven, adding to his stage two, three and six triumphs, blowing away his general classification competition.
Pogacar emerged ahead of French duo Dorian Godon and Guillaume Martin, second and third respectively, in a frenzied finish to the 143.5 kilometre stage, which started and finished in Barcelona.
📹Torna a viure l'últim quilòmetre de la quarta victòria de @TamauPogi a la #VoltaCatalunya103!
— Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 24, 2024
🔥¡Vuelve a disfrutar el último km de la victoria de Pogačar @TeamEmiratesUAE en Barcelona!
🤩Relive the last km of Tadej Pogačar's 4th victory at @BCN_esports!#VoltaCatalunya103 pic.twitter.com/NMfxENoQLf
"I'm so happy to take the win -- it wasn't the original plan," said Pogacar.
Pogacar's UAE team-mate Joao Almeida had a move shut down in the final kilometres but Pogacar snatched victory.
"Joao Almeida set a good pace on the climb and we were a small group in the front," added Pogacar.
"He made a good attack on the last small climb and almost came to the finish. I wish he could arrive, but I'm happy to take this win, too."
The UAE Team Emirates rider won the race by three minutes 41 seconds from Spaniard Mikel Landa, with Egan Bernal third, a full five minutes and three seconds behind Pogacar.
The 25-year-old carved out a big lead on the second stage and nobody threatened to depose him for the rest of the week.
Pogacar is aiming for an ambitious Giro-Tour double in 2024, hoping to become the first man to win both since Marco Pantani in 1998.
#VoltaCatalunya103 Final 7⃣ @BCN_esports (1/2)
— Volta a Catalunya (@VoltaCatalunya) March 24, 2024
🏆Guanyador d'etapa @ClubRACC 🏆 @TamauPogi @TeamEmiratesUAE
🟢General @esportcat🟢@TamauPogi
🔴Muntanya @iryo_eu 🔴@TamauPogi
🔵Regularitat @lagrossacat 🔵@TamauPogi pic.twitter.com/rnlzzIPS68