Mauro Gianetti plays down Tadej Pogacar's team could become a weakness: "With Novak, Felix and Majka we’ll be well-represented on the climbs"

For Tadej Pogacar, the first step in his chase of a Giro-Tour double appears to be a walk in a park, but his UAE Team Emirates boss Mauro Gianetti reminds that it's still a bit early to fall asleep on a bed of roses for the man in Maglia Rosa.

"There’s still one week. I know it’s said before and it’s repetitive but there’s still one week to Rome and a lot of big stages," Gianetti told GCN before Saturday's timetrial.

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"Today is one of the important stages but then we have Sunday, Tuesday, and Saturday. There are many big stages and as we saw in the crosswinds on Friday, every day can be important. It’s still a long way. We’re in a good position, Tadej and the team are riding well but we have to stay concentrated," Gianetti reminds.

"It’s going to be normal that they’re going to attack him and try and do something but they also need to be about the individuality of the riders because I don’t see other teams with many, many riders on the climbs," Gianetti turned down the speculations that team strength could become Pogacar's weakness.

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The pressure to perform at their best will be mainly on Domen Novak, Felix Grossschartner and Rafal Majka, Gianetti sees. "With Novak, Felix and Majka we’ll be well-represented on the climbs. I expect attacks but they need to be by the rival team leaders," he added.

Anyhow, the final results are not set in stone and Gianetti has understanding for Pogacar's opponents still dreaming about the pink, even if the Slovenian gave them little to no hope. "I still think that they, his rivals, have in mind the maglia rosa because everyone has the chance and the opportunity to try and win the Giro. They are great champions and I think that’s their mentality also," he concluded.

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