British rider Josh Tarling won a 12.2km time trial on stage two of the UAE Tour on Tuesday, claiming the overall lead in the seven-day race, while Tadej Pogacar finished third.

The 21-year-old Ineos rider, who placed fourth in last year’s Paris Olympics time trial despite a nasty fall, completed the course at an average speed of over 56km/h.

"I missed some big chances last year, so I needed this," Tarling said.

The course was well-suited to his 6ft 4in (1.94m) frame, featuring flat terrain and few corners. He finished 13 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Steffan Bissegger and 18 seconds ahead of Tour de France and Giro d’Italia champion Pogacar, securing the overall leader’s red jersey from Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan.

Pogacar Satisfied With Performance

Milan, one of the late starters, was hindered by increasing winds in the closing stages. Pogacar acknowledged the challenge of competing against time trial specialists like Tarling and Bissegger.

"It was a good time trial, a first all-out effort of the year, and I am happy with both the speed and the legs. It was always going to be tough to compete against Tarling and Bissegger because they really fly on this kind of parcours," Pogacar said.

Jebel Jais Awaits

Tarling faces a tough challenge in Wednesday’s stage three, a 181km ride through the desert from Ras al Khaimah to a summit finish at Jebel Jais.

The climb spans 20km with a five percent average gradient, ramping up to seven percent in the final two kilometers. Pogacar, currently third overall at 18 seconds behind Tarling, is eager for the opportunity.

"Tomorrow is a very nice stage for me," Pogacar said. "I have good memories from Jebel Jais, and as I always say, it is a day for a sprint between the climbers."

With Bissegger in second, 13 seconds off the lead, Pogacar remains confident. "There can be surprises, of course, but I am really looking forward to it because it suits me very well."