With two stage wins in the bag and a lead of over two and a half minutes in the general classification heading into stage 8, it's easy to assume Tadej Pogacar has virtually already won the 2024 Giro d'Italia. EF Education-EasyPost boss Jonathan Vaughters insists however, there is still drama to come at this race.
"The GC has a feeling like it’s a bit of a one-man show but that will start to fall apart as the race goes forward because the UAE has brought a good, competent team that can control the race on the flatter stages but as it gets more mountainous, I think they’ll struggle a little bit," the American explains on Eurosport. "I don’t think Pogacar will struggle but historically speaking, the Giro has this one day where a big group gets off and gets a bunch of time. The Tour de France does not have that, there’s too many teams playing defense so everyone is willing to chase."
"In the Giro, there are more teams with nothing to lose so we’re not going to chase and we’re going to send guys off on the break and so the race generally has less control, which UAE will struggle with. Maybe that makes Pogacar expend more energy than he usually would," Vaughters continues. "I see the race has a lot of story to be told yet. Last year, we were also assuming that Remco Evenepoel was going to run away with the Giro and that didn’t even come close to happening."
The question also remains whether or not Pogacar will loan out the Maglia Rosa to a breakaway rider in order to give his team a few days off from chasing and controlling. As the boss of a rival team, Vaughters understandably is hopeful of such a circumstance arising.
"What’s interesting to me: Is UAE aiming to try to hold the pink jersey from stem to stern? Or are they willing to almost want another team to take it for a little while?" he questions. "Now that we’re past the time trial, they know who’s strong and not strong so they can separate the weak from the chaff. They know it’s not a real risk, they’ve already seen in the race of truth what the guy can really do."
Vai Georg!! Vai!! 📣💕
🏁 106 KM 8️⃣ 🚴♂️ < 38" < 6️⃣ 🚴♂️ < 2’00"🚴♂️🚴♂️🚴♂️💗🚗 🇪🇨 @NarvaezJho (IGD) 🇩🇪 Georg Steinhauser (EFE) 🇩🇪 @simongeschke (COF) 🇫🇷 @alafpolak1 (SOQ) 🇫🇷 @costiouewen (ARK) 🇫🇷 @romainbardet (DSM) 🇫🇷 @Valent1_Paret (DAT) 🇺🇸 @MagnusSheffield (IGD) #GirodItalia pic.x.com/VFoNMDccHn
