05/05/2024

Tadej Pogacar emulates Marco Pantani and recovers from crash to take victory atop Oropa at Giro d'Italia

Tadej Pogacar has arrived at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Surviving a late scare and a trip to the Italian tarmac, the UAE Team Emirates leader has soloed in style to victory in the mythical slopes of Oropa.

With attacks from the flag drop, led by Filippo Fiorelli in the Maglia Ciclamino, UAE Team Emirates and the INEOS Grenadiers were keeping close order at the front. Despite many riders attempting to counter-attack, in the end a five-man group of Italians managed to break free. Christian Scaroni, Andrea Piccolo, Davide Bais, Martin Marcellusi and the aforementioned Fiorelli.

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As the INEOS Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates attempt some early mind games, the breakaway quickly managed to stretch their advantage up towards four minutes. Eventually, it was INEOS Grenadiers who blinked first and sent their riders to the front of the peloton to start controlling the chase.

Despite sitting third in the points classification, Fiorelli was wearing the Maglia Ciclamino jersey on stage 2. Part of the breakaway for the second day running, the Italian led the lead group of five across the line at the intermediate sprint to take maximum points on offer. In the sprint for the scraps behind from the peloton, it was Kaden Groves who beat Olav Kooij and Caleb Ewan.

Fiorelli again took maximum points at the second sprint, ensuring he would be in the Maglia Ciclamino by right at the end of the day. Following the sprint though, Piccolo decided the time was right to attack his rivals and move clear solo at the head of the race.

Having started the day at just 1:07 down, Piccolo was still in the provisional Maglia Rosa with 25km to go, 2:15 clear of the peloton, still led by INEOS Grenadiers. As the Oropa climb begun, Piccolo was still around a minute clear but there was drama behind as Tadej Pogacar suffered a flat tyre and suffered a small crash. Although this crash meant the Slovenian missed out on the bonus seconds at the final intermediate sprint, Pogacar was able to get back to the front before the final slopes began.

With 6.5km to go, Piccolo was finally caught. UAE Team Emirates were setting a fierce tempo at the front and with around 4km to go, Pogacar launched his attack. Although Ben O'Connor and Geraint Thomas fought hard initially to keep the wheel, no one could follow Pogacar.

As Pogacar powered towards victory, things were regrouping behind and the lack of work was not only giving the UAE Team Emirates leader the stage win but handing the Maglia Rosa on a plate.