Tadej Pogačar solos to victory at Giro dell’Emilia in familiar long-race attack
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Resplendent in the rainbow bands for the first time in a race, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) attacked with 37km to go to claim a solo victory in the 2024 Giro dell’Emilia.
The new world champion accelerated on the first of five ascents of the climb to San Luca which characterises this race. In the downpour which persisted throughout the race, Pogačar responded to an initial move by Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick-Step), before attacking over the top of the double Olympic champion and quickly building his lead.
It was a quintessential Pogačar performance as he danced clear of the group, never to be seen by his competitors again and winning by a margin of almost two minutes.
Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) won the dash from the pursuing group to take the runner-up spot, with Davide Piganzoli (Polti-Kometa) just behind him in third place. The rider who seemed most likely to challenge Pogačar, Evenepoel, pulled out of the race with around 25km to go.
“I must admit I felt really good all week since the Worlds and then when the rainbow kit arrived I felt a bit of pressure to perform but thankfully it went well. I gave my all today to show off the jersey. I’m very thankful to all the fans who were out there cheering in the rain for everybody. It was really amazing,” Pogačar stated in team release..
“Today we had a plan to keep it hard until the last two lap but in the end Remco moved and it unfolded a lot earlier. Then there was attacks and I responded and pushed on but didn’t think it would go as it did. There are just two races left now this season and I’m looking forward to them.”
The day’s breakaway of six riders moved away early in the race. It consisted of Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis), Roberto González (Corratec-Vini Fantini), Ander Ganzabal (Euskaltel – Euskadi), Alessio Martinelli (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè), José Ramón Muñiz (Team Petrolike) and Dmitri Peyskens (Bingoal…