This time last year, when Tadey Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) won the first summit finish of the Volta ao Algarve in Foia, he was a little-known first-year pro who surprised the existing hierarchy with his powerful climbing style.

Fast forward 12 months later, and Pogachar has won not only the Volta ao Algarve, but also the Tour of California, his first Grand Tour podium and three stage wins at the Vuelta a España. The young Slovenian is no longer an unknown quantity in the sport and can no longer surprise the top contenders as he did in Portugal a year ago.

In any case, that doesn't seem to matter. Because when Valencia's leading contender, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), was about to claim his first win of the season with his trademark acceleration in the summit finish at Crera, Pogachar not only followed El Bala, but was able to overtake the Spanish champion just before the finish line. Because he was able to.

Once again, the old regime gave way to the new, and Pogachar not only took his first stage win and first leader's jersey of the season in Valencia, but also the green points jersey and best young rider award.

After last week's victory by 20-year-old Remco Evenpole (Deceuninck-Quick Step) at the Vuelta a San Juan, this week it may be Pogachal's turn to continue leading the young guns of the cycling world in Valencia.

"I really like Spain," he said.

He pointed out that he is having success in the same terrain that benefited him so much last September. He said, "The team did a really good job, and we were in a good position before the finish.

"I was waiting for the others and I had seen the video of the climb so I knew what it was like and the timing was right. At the time I thought I was a little slow, but in the end it was perfect."

To defend his lead, Pogachar admitted that Saturday's climb was five kilometers and included a 26 percent stretch, much more difficult than Thursday's, but said he would do his best.

"I'm more confident in my condition than this morning, but this is a five-minute test. Saturday is much longer. Saturday will be a completely different story, but any victory is a good sign and I want to keep it going."

Speaking to Cycling News before the stage, Pogachar was modest about the possibility of Wednesday's climb, but said, "One of my main goals is to do well in the UAE Tour. He will be the team leader in this race.

"The winter was good, I trained without any interruptions, and in January I trained in the Sierra Nevada [ski resort]. I didn't ski, but I wanted to do it once in a while. "After the UAE tour, the Slovenian will head to Paris-Nice, Milan-San Remo, and then the Basque and Ardennes Classics.

As for the Tour de France, "You just learn. The Tour is totally different from the Vuelta, so there is a lot to get used to. I'll also be taking part in the Dauphiné, and there's a training camp at altitude beforehand."

Pogachar agreed that last year was a significant raising of the goalposts in his first full season as a professional. Pogachar agreed that last year was a significant raising of the goalposts in his first full season as a professional.

"I don't want to rush ahead, I prefer to go step by step. It would be great if we could have a similar result to last year." And with the first summit finish in Valencia, he began to lay the first cornerstone for that.