Tadej Pogacar plays the long game to conquer Giro d'Italia's queen stage: "We had already circled this stage sometime in December"

There is no stopping Tadej Pogacar at the Giro d'Italia. If any doubts remained that he may not have been at his best during the past week of the Corsa Rosa, they no longer do, as the race leader himself attacked the queen stage this Sunday afternoon to take several minutes on his rivals and dramatically take the stage win against Nairo Quintana in the high-altitude Mottolino summit finish.

“It was a very nice stage. The course was good and the climbs suited me. The team did well. We had already circled this stage sometime in December," Pogacar told reporters after the stage. "We tried to check. It was a strong leading group, but in the last fifteen kilometers I gave it everything. I am happy that I was able to win the queen stage, especially in Livigno, because that is one of my favorite places."

Pogacar knew the stage, and had it in mind for months. Hence, with a rest day incoming and roads where he could make the difference, UAE Team Emirates decided to pace throughout the whole day to control as best as possible a breakaway of several dozen riders. In the peloton, a constant pace all the way into the Passo del Foscagno. All of his teammate contributed in the head of the peloton throughout over 200 kilometers to give him a chance to win in pink once again.

“I had consulted with my teammates. We had to ride smart and not give the escapees too much space," he explains. Then, with 14 kilometers to go, he launched his own move after Rafal Majka once again did a world-class leadout. "Rafal Majka did very well. After we got a tailwind, I attacked and hoped that I could close the gap." Daniel Martínez tried but failed to keep up, whilst all other GC contenders began to look at their own ambitions; whilst the pink jersey flew up the mountain.

He cut over two minutes of gap to Nairo Quintana and overtook the Colombian on the final 2 kilometers of the final ascent. The final kilometer of the climb looked to put even himself in difficulty, but Pogacar had all the time in the world to celebrate as he crossed the line with his arm up in the air for the fourth time in two weeks.

“I always looked at Froome and Quintana. I was always angry with Quintana because he attacked too late," Pogacar joked when asked about the two riders who were the closest to taking the stage win, if only the Slovenian hadn't decided to do it himself. "But today he (Quintana, ed.) rode very well. Georg Steinhauser also rode great today."