Although there was much talk pre-race about the supposed weakness of the UAE Team Emirates lineup around Tadej Pogacar at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, over the last three weeks, those concerns have turned out to be unfounded.
With the team playing in key role in a number of Pogacar's six Giro d'Italia stage wins, as they controlled the breakaway and kept them within reach for an impending attack from the Maglia Rosa, one of those unsung heroes of the UAE Team Emirates' Giro d'Italia success was the 28-year-old compatriot of the team leader, Domen Novak.
"Three weeks of racing are behind us. I’m very happy with my performance, I’ve never felt so good," the Slovenian writes in a post-race reflection on his official Instagram account after the Giro d'Italia concluded with a celebration in Rome on Sunday afternoon. "Of course, it was also difficult sometimes."
"The team was great, and also the atmosphere. I am glad that I could be a part of it and also contribute something to this victory. There are no words to describe these feelings," continues Novak, who was riding alongside Pogacar in a Grand Tour for the first time in his career. "I am very proud of Tadej Pogacar, he is absolutely amazing. Thanks to everyone who believed and supported us."
In the end, Pogacar took a dominant victory by almost ten minutes over second-placed Daniel Martinez. Whilst the UAE Team Emirates leader will now enjoy a short rest before switching attention to target the Tour de France next month will an all-star support cast including the likes of Adam Yates, Joao Almeida, Juan Ayuso, Pavel Sivakov, Nils Politt, Tim Wellens and Marc Soler, Novak, who wasn't selected for the Tour de France, will be preparing for his next scheduled appearance where he is to race at the 2024 Tour of Slovenia as it gets underway in his homeland on the 12th of June.
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