Tadej Pogacar reached the top step three times in eight stages of the Giro and boasts 2’40 on Martinez and 2’58” on Thomas. On the Prati di Tivo climb he won without forcing, without exceeding which, while on the one hand it might seem like a form of respect towards all his colleagues, according to some it is instead a soft way to demonstrate his excessive power. It’s difficult to say what’s going on in the Slovenian’s head, but it’s easier to understand what’s in his legs. Today on the steep slopes of the final climb, he received series of attacks even from men far from the Maglia Rosa but Pogacar responded to everyone. He wanted to win, he knew that he could win, he let his opponents believe that they had some hope but he put them in line one by one, without overdoing it, leaving everyone speechless.
Tadej Pogacar said: “Winning here is special because I remembered 2021, when at Tirreno-Adriatico I took my first important success in Italy and I dedicated it to my girlfriend Urska. This victory is for my teammates. They worked so hard to be at their best here at the Giro and I want to repay their work. However, my rivals for the general classification held their own and this performance can give them confidence. There were many attacks in the first part of the race but, once we saw that my teammates Mikkel Bjerg and Vegard Stake Laengen had managed to stay in the group after the Forca Capistrello, we decided to go and mend the breakaway. The pace set at the end was high, even in the slipstream it felt good. Majka did a great job in the final and I managed to capitalize on it. I understand that there may be some bad mood among my rivals, but out of 8 stages I won 3, which means that there are opportunities for them too.”
ARRIVAL ORDER:
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in 4h02’16”
2. Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) st
3. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Monde) st
4. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +02″
5. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) st
6. Einer Rubio (Movistar) st
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) st
8. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) +11″
9. Michael Storer (Tudor) +13″
10. Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa) +21″
11. Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana) +21”
12. Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) +21”
13. Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group Bardiani-CSF Faizanè) +21”
GENERAL RANKING
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) in 28h14’42”
2. Daniel Martinez (Bora-hansgrohe) +2’40”
3. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) +2’58”
4. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa) +3’39”
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) +4’02”
6. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) +4’23”
7. Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana Qazaqstan) +5’15”
8. Einer Rubio (Movistar) +5’28”
9. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) +5’30”
10. Jan Hirt (Soudal-QuickStep) +5’53”
11. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) +6’20”
12. Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) 6’21”
13. Alex Baudin (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa Team) 6’34”
14. Filippo Zana (Team Jayco AlUla) 7’12”
15. Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè) 7’37”
