A rider of the Junior Pogi Team passed away this Friday on the eve of the Giro d'Italia. This was the reason why Tadej Pogacar raced with a black band around his arm, and looked to take the victory to dedicate to his friends and family.
The rider passed away after a kayaking accident this week. Team manager Mauro Gianetti was asked following the stage and explained: “He wanted to dedicate the victory, if possible, to the guy of his team who died." This victory ultimately did not come as he was beaten in the final sprint against two puncheurs who survived the final ascent in Jhonatan Narváez and Max Schachmann.
However, he put in time already on his main rivals on the opening day of the race, confirming his status and his good form. However Gianetti is aware that the team had a lot of work to do in the finale, a product of it's lineup which is not at the level of the Tour's: “If there had been someone else there with him on the final climb then we’d have two leader. We had to make a decision to work, to bring back the group in order to be able to play the final climb."
But he is happy with the outcome of the day. "More than the 10 seconds is to see that he is in good condition, and to see where are the other contenders. It’s nice to win but it’s also good that Ineos has the jersey and some responsibility," Gianetti concluded.
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