"If we had given away the pink, we would still have the blue" - Joxean Matxin denies claims UAE wanted to lose Tadej Pogacar's Maglia Rosa ahead of Giro time-trial

For a moment or so out on the road, it looked as if Tadej Pogacar would pass on the Maglia Rosa to Luke Plapp during stage 6 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Post-stage, Pogacar himself even admitted he wouldn't have been too bothered to lose the Maglia Rosa although that wasn't how things transpired.

In the end, Pogacar and the rest of the GC contenders crossed the line just 28 seconds down on Plapp, who finished third from the breakaway. According to UAE Team Emirates boss Joxean Matxin however, giving away the Maglia Rosa was never part of the plan as it would have made very little sense heading into the Giro d'Italia's first time-trial on stage 7.

"Tadej could not have ridden in his own time-trial suit in any scenario," Matxin explains, countering claims that giving away the Maglia Rosa would have benefitted Pogacar, as he wouldn't be forced to use a race organisation skin suit. "He is also leader in the mountains classification. If we had given away the pink, we would still have the blue."

"Giving away the pink is not an obsession for us," Matxin insists. "It really depends on the situation. Today we had to remain relaxed, control to stay out of trouble and also race with respect for the pink jersey. We never thought about giving away the pink, not even towards Friday's time trial. The next two days will be important to understand what situation we are in."