“I don’t think anything special about Tadej Pogacar’s performance" - Marc Madiot unsurprised by dominant Giro d'Italia
Cycling
Taking victory by just a touch short of ten minutes, Tadej Pogacar was a dominant and comprehensive winner at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. In the days since, seemingly the whole cycling world has weighed in with an opinion on the all-conquering UAE Team Emirates leader.
Groupama - FDJ boss Marc Madiot had an intriguing view of Pogacar's dominance, being with a rival team. Speaking in a post-Giro reflection to Cyclism'Actu however, the experienced Frenchman admitted it was something he had always expected to happen over the three weeks of racing in Italy.
“I don’t think anything special about Pogacar’s performance, there are no surprises. We knew he would be above the rest and he was. There was no match,” says Madiot. For Groupama - FDJ at the Giro d'Italia however, things were a little more difficult and disappointing. “Laurence Pithie arrived a little weak, he had a little problem with one knee. He was in poor condition at the start, it ended better. So we knew it would be complicated. We don't have an exceptional tank at the team level, we have a lot of young riders and we have to be patient with the young people."
With the Tour de France upcoming, Madiot is anticipating his team to make more of an impact. In terms of the general classification however, the Frenchman predicts more Tadej Pogacar dominance. "A good fight on the Tour? No, no. In my opinion, if he is on the same line as in the Giro, he will be at the same level in the Tour de France and the result will be the same or almost the same. At this moment, he has a boulevard in front of him,” Madiot concludes, noting the injury hit preparations for the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic and two time back to back Tour de France winner, Jonas Vingegaard.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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Pogacar is in a world of his own 🌍 The UAE Team Emirates superstar is four wins ahead of his closest challenger in the list of most pro wins in 2024 so far 🤯
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