Tadej Pogacar describes Giro dell'Emilia triumph - "This race has been on my wish list for a long time"

In his debut with the rainbow jersey, Tadej Pogacar put in a stellar ride to win the Giro dell'Emilia with another long solo ride. The UAE Team Emirates rider is unstoppable this year and has ticked off another race from the list of big events he hadn't yet won. He details the victory and what came before it.

“This race has been on my wish list for a long time. This was a golden opportunity. I am in top form and in this weather I usually perform very well," Pogacar told Het Laatste Nieuws. "The idea was to systematically increase the pace towards the last two laps, so that we could possibly strike there. But even before the local circuit, Lidl-Trek raced very aggressively, which caused the race to explode early. On San Luca, Remco then ‘provoked’ for a moment.”

With the rain falling down heavily, the course favoured early attackers as it would be very difficult to organize a chase - and with most of the main favourites not being able to perform at their regular level. “I followed a big attack from an Astana rider from the back. Only Matteo Jorgenson followed. ‘Okay’, I understood. In these extremely tough and explosive conditions I can’t wait any longer. I decided to push on.”

Under such conditions and against such a strong rider, it simply was not possible to follow the Slovenian. Matteo Jorgenson initially attempted but did not have the pace, and as soon as the gap built up it was impossible to bring it back. It could even be said that, despite the brutal route, it was one of Pogacar's easiest wins this year, as he even slowed down significantly the final time up San Luca and still arrived with almost two minutes over second place Tom Pidcock.

“The first few days after my world title I tried to disconnect a bit at home, to enjoy a bit of normal life. But then I came down here, I got my new clothing package and new bike, the sponsors came to visit and yes, the pressure did increase," he concluded. "You need to deliver, I told myself. And I did. It felt really great. I was enormously encouraged by countless fans. They were there for me, in the pouring rain. This one is for them!”