Another day successfully ticked off for Tadej Pogacar at the 2024 Giro d'Italia on stage 18. With just three stages now left, the UAE Team Emirates goes into the final weekend with a more than comfortable lead in the general classification of 7:42.
"Let's say it was almost a perfect day!" reflected Pogacar in his interview afterwards, looking back on his stage 18 exploits, a day in which the sprint teams did all the work on the front of the peloton, allowing not only the Maglia Rosa but also his UAE Team Emirates teammates an easier day, before the stage win went to Soudal - Quick-Step's Tim Merlier in a thrilling finale ahead of Jonathan Milan. "I had good legs and I'm super happy with today."
With two climbing days up next, will Pogacar be looking to add to the already five stage wins he has in the bag at this Grand Tour? "Maybe the day after tomorrow, we will see," he assesses, clearly targeting the stage 20 finish and with good reason too. "That is a beautiful stage, close to Slovenia and we will see. Why not? If I have good legs, and also the team because it is going to be hard to control the first part. But, we'll see first with tomorrow's stage and then Saturday."
On tomorrow, there is a high possibility on paper at least of victory going to the breakaway. But with the cannibalistic mood that the UAE Team Emirates leader has been in so far at the 2024 Giro d'Italia there is always the threat to those in the break that Pogacar might have other plans. "I don't know yet honestly," he laughs when asked his plans for stage 19. "Just try to survive."
As mentioned, barring any incident of disaster or a miraculous raid by the likes of Daniel Martinez or Geraint Thomas, Pogacar seems to have the Maglia Rosa locked up and in truth, has done for quite some time now.
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