"That is a beautiful stage, close to Slovenia" - Tadej Pogacar targeting Saturday to take stunning sixth stage success at 2024 Giro d'Italia
CyclingFriday, 24 May 2024 at 09:38
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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- Starting all 3 vs finishing all 3, which makes what Sepp Kuss did in 2023 very impressive.
Front24209-01-2026 - It'd be good to see these back on the Classics 👍
leedorney09-01-2026 - it will be interesting to see his results when he steps into the bigger races. 19 wins, but so many in the fall in mid level races. still the mid races need to be won to step up to the biggies.mij09-01-2026
- Looks like his poor health just stomped on the rear mech of his cycling career.Onepiece09-01-2026
- she is so good. even her results from 2025, which were “bad”, would be a career year for most riders. and consider at MSR, for example, her teammate won - perhaps Lotte could have won it. wishing her the best for 2026!mij09-01-2026
- bummer - he was fun to watch and was young. had a lot left in him.mij09-01-2026
- What a fairytale day! Everything fell into place.mhfrvz09-01-2026
- Not sure you can say that someone as talented and successful as him has had bad luck, but between coming along right after the two titans and now this, his is a career cut short. Perhaps he can transition to a different role in the sport, but in any case I wish him well.MidnightRider08-01-2026
- I doubt it. This blows a hole in their ranks.mobk08-01-2026
- For a while there, Eli was the best of the rest in cyclocross behind Mathieu and Wout. It must be tough to be forced to retire early due to medical issues, but good health trumps everything else. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.
santiagobenites08-01-2026
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