"Wherever I go I'm considered the favourite. By now I have learned to live with it" - Tadej Pogacar thriving under pressure of Giro d'Italia favourite tag

In the eyes of most pundits, fans and even fellow riders, Tadej Pogacar is a clear standout favourite for the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Rather than feeling the weight of this pressure however, the Slovenian is well used to the weight of anticipation by now.

"I think wherever I go I'm considered the favourite. By now I have learned to live with it and I have learned to race with this in mind," the UAE Team Emirates leader previews in his pre-race press conference. "We prepare with the team thinking that everyone will race against us and it will be like that at the Giro too. We know we have to check practically every day, especially in the first few days, when everyone will be waiting for our moves. But when the team is so strong it takes a lot of pressure off you. We know we have to control, we know that everyone will be watching us, but we have to run our race, follow our plan, calculating that in any case we have to try to keep as much energy as possible for the end, without emptying ourselves completely."

When it comes to his potential challengers, Pogacar isn't keen to single anyone in particular out as his biggest rival. "In three weeks there can be many surprises," he previews. "There are a lot of strong young riders developing, but beyond the youngsters Romain Bardet has shown that he is in great form and I think Geraint Thomas will be as strong as ever. He has done a good preparation and will be ready. I think he will be present on the climbs and in the time trials. However, I think that on the second day we will understand better."

Despite some concerns that UAE Team Emirates are sending a B-team alongside Pogacar to the Giro, the Slovenian also has full faith in his companions. "I have great confidence in Rafal Majka and Felix Grossschartner, but also Domen Novak and Mikel Bjerg who can do a great job on the climbs. We also have with Vegard Stake Laengen a very good man for the flat train, so the others can rest," he answers. "I am very confident in this team, with Juan Sebastian Molano and Rui Oliveira also able to help us in the position."

The fact that all the talk is surrounding Pogacar ahead of the first Grand Tour of the year though, isn't something the 25-year-old is overly enthused by. "It's not nice, it's not respectful of others," he says. "It's not just me and the UAE, it's not just us."

"Once you get to the mountains the difference is minimal. We all want to win and I think other teams can win too," Pogacar concludes. "I won a lot and maybe it's also a bit of my fault in this sense, but I didn't race like others, doing preparation races. I only did the races I was aiming for."