Sawt Falasteen - Pogacar increases hold on Romandie lead with sprint win

Pogacar cracked a smile and held two fingers in the air to signal a second victory as he finished almost a bike length ahead of Frenchman Dorian Godon.

After the last survivor of a four-man breakaway was caught, Florian Lipowitz launched the sprint but was chased down by Godon, but the Ineos rider had UAE team leader Pogacar on his wheel.

The Slovenian world champion surged up the inside in the final 100 metres of a rolling 173.1 kilometre stage through Switzerland from Rue to Vucherens.

New Zealander Finn Fisher-Black was third.

"Some guys went too early and it was an advantage for me," said Pogacar at the finish. "For me it was all under control and a super sprint for me."

Pogacar, who is competing in the Romandie for the first time, picked up 10 bonus seconds to increase his overall lead to 17 seconds over Lipowitz, a German who rides for Red Bull, with Frenchman Lenny Martinez of Bahrain Victorious third at 26 seconds.

Friday's third stage, a 176.6km circuit starting and ending in Orbe, includes one second-category climb.

B.Mahmoud--SF-PST