“I don’t think anything special about Tadej Pogacar’s performance" - Marc Madiot unsurprised by dominant Giro d'Italia

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.