An interesting mix of kit 😅 Pogačar was one of the only riders on a rain affected Stage 16 to finish with no gloves and bare arms 👀 📸 Getty Images
"He told me to go and win the stage" - Rafal Majka reveals Tadej Pogacar attempted to gift stage 16 victory at the Giro d'Italia
CyclingWednesday, 22 May 2024 at 10:31
For the fifth time at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, Tadej Pogacar was the first rider to cross the finish line on stage 16 as the Maglia Rosa continues to dominate his rivals. Speaking post-stage however, Pogacar's loyal super-domestique Rafal Majka admitted another stage win wasn't in the initial plan.
“In reality, we didn't want to win today," the Polish climber of UAE Team Emirates told Eurosport immediately following the conclusion of the stage. "But when the other teams tried to close the breakaway we said to ourselves 'why not'. We were still there, with three men. So on the last climb I accelerated and at a certain point I saw that there was only him at my wheel so it was done."
With Movistar Team using some curious tactics during the stage as they burned through their team on the flat without doing much to catch the breakaway and then on the climb attempting repeatedly to send Pelayo Sanchez as a satellite rider for Einer Rubio to chase, UAE Team Emirates took over towards the finale, benefitting from the Spanish teams work with Pogacar launching at around 2km to go and quickly working his way past the the remainder of the day's break.
"Pogacar told me to go and win the stage, but I already felt tired after accelerating and I told him to go and win another stage," the 34-year-old Polish climber concludes his reflection of the stage. "Really, we didn't want to win today..."
After attempting to gift the stage win to his loyal teammate, Pogacar did gift his race-worn sunglasses and Maglia Rosa to the 20-year-old Italian of VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè, Giulio Pellizzari who bravely held on to second place after being the last man from the breakaway to be caught by the UAE Team Emirates leader.
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