TOUR OF ITALY | 10/05/2024 | 08:24
by Francesca Monzone
Tadej Pogacar yesterday towards Rapolano Terme he was losing the pink jersey, which virtually ended up on the shoulders of the Australian Plapp for a few kilometres. Everything then came back and the Slovenian champion just had to make sure he reached the finish line without any problems. «Yesterday it was important to stay out of trouble and we succeeded. We stayed focused because dirt roads are always treacherous and we wanted to avoid falls and punctures».
While racing Pogacar was cautious and the Tour de France appeared in his head several times and the desire to win again in France. «Certainly when I was racing I had the Tour in my mind and that’s why I’m happy that today’s stage ended well, but tomorrow will be another day».
Today all eyes will once again be on the Slovenian, who will once again be the favorite in the time trial in Perugia. «During the race we thought about not taking risks, but also about save your energy for the time trial. It’s been a long time since I’ve competed in a time trial and so it will be a good test for me and as always I will give my all. I just want to race well and feel the same positive sensations as when I race a road bike.”
Yesterday Pogacar returned to the dirt roads not far from Siena, where he won Strade Bianche last March. “I was pleased to return to these dirt roads, but I always prefer the Strade Bianche ones.”
Pogacar would have also handed over his pink jersey to Plapp yesterday, but the frenetic pace of Ineos changed the final result and the Slovenian will start in pink again today.
«For us it was perfect and it wouldn’t have been a problem if Plapp had taken the pink jersey. We didn’t want to waste too much energy, but the Ineos ran very fast on the gravel roads and on the final slopes. But she did well.”
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