Tadej Pogacar leads nuclear UAE Team Emirates at Giro dell'Emilia with sights on Lombardia title defense

Tadej Pogacar was building up towards the World Championships, but the good form he showed at the GP de Montréal two weeks before wasn't on display in Wollongong. Now, the Slovenian focuses on the final target of the season.

Pogacar won Il Lombardia in 2021 and will be returning to try and take a second consecutive title, where he should be a prime contender for the win. As most of his rivals, he will be racing some of the Italian Autumn Classics, which feature several hilly days, and he will return to competition at the Giro dell'Emilia.

“Since I got back from Australia, I've taken it easy. We will see how it is with the form," Pogacar told in a press release. “Last year I was at the start of the Italian autumn classics for the first time. That was a very nice period. Winning the Tour of Lombardy was a perfect end to my season and I hope to repeat that now. The Giro dell'Emilia is a tough race, which is fun for the fans. I would like to rebuild towards Lombardy.”

He will be joined by an incredibly strong team which will include climbers such as his right-hand man Rafal Majka, Marc Soler and George Bennett, and three hilly classics specialists in Marc Hirschi, Alessandro Covi and Davide Formolo.

UAE Team Emirates for Giro dell'Emilia: Tadej Pogacar, George Bennett, Alessandro Covi, Davide Formolo, Marc Hirschi, Rafał Majka and Marc Soler.