Tadej Pogacar won the second stage. © APA/afp / LUCA BETTINI

Pogacar flexes his muscles at the Giro

As expected, top favorite Tadej Pogacar won the difficult second stage of the Giro d'Italia from San Francesco al Campo over 161 km to Santuario di Oropa on Sunday after 3:54:20 hours.

05 May 2024

From: apa/dl

The Slovenian from the UAE team took the lead on the final climb thanks to the help of his colleagues, including Felix Großschartner, and pulled away irresistibly over the last four kilometers. Pogacar now also wears the pink jersey of the overall leader.

Pogacar, who was in the peloton, suffered damage to his front tire around eleven kilometers from the finish in Biella and was unable to prevent a (harmless) fall. At this point, the Italian Andrea Piccolo was solo in the front for almost 45 seconds. Großschartner then paved the way for the top favorite from the back of the peloton to the front of the peloton. The UAE team, led by Norwegian Mikkel Bjerg, then picked up the pace on the difficult final climb. As expected, long-term leader Piccolo (EF Education) was caught 6,5 km from the finish.

Rise to elite circles

After that, the race belonged to Pogacar, who continuously increased his lead over his pursuers right up to the finish. He won by 27 seconds each ahead of Daniel Felipe Martinez (COL/Bora) and Geraint Thomas (GBR/Ineos). The latter is second overall, 45 seconds behind.

Tadej Pogacar won his first Giro stage. © APA/afp / LUCA BETTINI

In his first Giro it was the Slovenian's first stage win, meaning he has now won sections of all three Grand Tours. “That was one of my dreams, all I was missing was a Giro stage win. Not many riders have achieved that, it's a big thing in cycling, so I'm super happy." Pogacar praised his team for getting him back to the front "perfectly" after the crash.

The leader after the first stage, Jhonatan Narvaez from Ecuador, who had surprisingly stood up to Pogacar on the first day, could not keep up. The Dutch climbing veteran Robert Gesink (Visma) did not compete again after his fall the day before due to a fractured hand.