Giro d’Italia: Cycling: Tadej Pogacar shines with a pink jersey and red nose

Tadej Pogacar is currently taking on many rivals. He repeatedly eludes the entire Giro d’Italia peloton. He took three stage victories in the first nine days. That’s a little lower than his impressive record of victories in the spring, when he crossed the finish line first in six of the ten racing days. But in Italy he is currently convincing himself on a course that is not necessarily tailor-made for him.

On the opening stage in Turin, Tadej Pogacar caught up with the breakaway group with tremendous momentum and fought for the stage win. After two victories in the mountains and in the time trial, he concluded the first week with a mass sprint on Naples’ waterfront boulevard. »On the one hand, I wanted to stay away from problems, but I also wanted to start the sprint for Sebastian Molano. Because it’s always nice to help a friend win,” he said, explaining the surprising move.

It wasn’t enough for Molano to win the day, the Colombian came third. After the race, however, he said that Pogacar had encouraged him throughout the day for the final sprint and that he was therefore particularly motivated. Pogacar is not just thinking about his own successes at this Giro. He also has enough mental and physical resources to encourage his teammates and take on helper duties.

However, the Slovenian’s red nose was also noticeable in the finish area. Consequences of a pollen allergy, he admitted – and quickly moderated the problem again. That would make many in the peloton sniffle. He’s feeling better again, said Pogacar. But the pollen could be the greatest, perhaps only, hope of its competitors. If your nose is closed, your lungs will draw less air and your leg muscles will be unable to work as well. Of all three major tours, the Giro is the one that is most characterized by challenges to the organism. Sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s Siberian cold. Then again rain and hail turn the asphalt into a slippery surface. And May also brings regular pollen counts. It’s not always the person who has the best legs who wins, but also the person who can best withstand the strain.

In the first week of the Giro, at least two riders emerged as potential threats to Pogacar. On the one hand there is the Brit Geraint Thomas. Although he described what Pogacar has delivered so far as “crazy”, he also made it clear that he was not willing to hand over the top step of the podium to the Slovenian without a fight. »Our team is good. My form is correct. And we’ll come up with something in the coming days,” said the former Tour de France winner and runner-up in the 2023 Giro. The Welshman is clever and capable of suffering. For the 37-year-old, this is probably his last chance to win the Giro.

Thomas is particularly hoping for the long and fairly steady climbs that await at the end of the second and especially the last week of this Giro. Next Sunday we go over the legendary Mortirolo Pass and the Fostagno Pass up to almost 2400 meters up to Livigno. The third week even has eleven passes, the highest of which, at 2,758 meters, the Stelvio Pass, is unlikely to be accessible due to snowfall. “There are still a lot of altitudes where a lot can happen,” Thomas remains optimistic.

Pogacar considers another driver to be more dangerous: Boras captain Daniel Martinez. »He has already achieved some good results this year. Above all, he is very explosive in mountain sprints. We have to pay attention to him,” said the front runner. That’s why Pogacar had his team work hard in the final on Saturday; Martinez, who had speculated on winning the stage, was denied this success. The Colombian put up with the defeat. But he also draws comfort from the fact that the Giro is still long and, above all, unpredictable. One factor is pollen in May.

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