"It seemed for a moment that he wanted to let him win" - Eurosport experts analyze Tadej Pogacar's path to fifth stage victory

Seemingly effortlessly, Tadej Pogacar rode to his fifth stage triumph on Tuesday. He didn't even have expose too many of his teammates on the way to Santa Cristina Valgardena with Movistar willingly controlling the gap of escapees in UAE Team Emirates' place. And when Pogacar, by many already nicknamed 'the Canibal' after famous Eddy Merckx, smells opportunity, he doesn't let go.

Number five, he can just count the stage wins on one hand, but Pogacar is flying at this Giro. For a long time, Pellizzari seemed to be on his way to victory, but the Italian climbing talent had to settle for second place. "It seemed for a moment that he wanted to let him win," Eurosport expert Jip van den Bos analyzes afterwards.

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"It looked like he was not riding at full speed, as if he was not going maximum. He hesitated and looked back, but because Daniel Felipe Martínez was approaching, that was not an option." Bobbie Traksel goes one step further. "It's almost like he feels guilty that he's winning so much."

"He needs a second hand this week," Traksel refers to Pogacar's counting gesture after his fifth victory. "I hope he does it again on Saturday and puts everyone at least ten minutes away in the rankings."

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Van den Bos saw that it hardly takes any effort for the Slovenian cannibal. "When you see him cycling like that and then you see Martínez cycling. Pogacar is just doing a training ride here. There is such a big difference between him and the rest. Those five victories also say a lot."

Despite the lack of tension, Traksel can enjoy Pogacar. "It's beautiful to watch. It's so easy. How beautiful Pogacar's life must be if you can cycle so easily. I would like to have his legs one day."

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