Giuseppe Saronni, 66 years old, 193 victories in his career, two Giro d’Italia, World Champion in Goodwood (1982), and much more, but now simply, so to speak, the one who discovered Tadej Pogacar, turning him professional at UAE Team Emirates in 2019.
The Italian doesn’t hide his admiration for the Slovenian in an interview with tuttobiciweb, where he discusses Pogacar’s decision to attempt to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in 2024.
How was the signing of Tadej Pogacar by UAE Team Emirates?
“Fabrizio Bontempi, sports director of my UAE, who always followed Slovenian cycling, Haumptman, coach of Slovenia, told us about this talent. I went to see him in the last stage of the Giro del Friuli U23 in 2018, and I saw an extraterrestrial.” Ready to go, he passed everyone with impressive ease, but from there to thinking he could immediately win two Tours, we didn’t imagine.
Surprised by Tadej Pogacar’s choice?
He begins by answering if he is surprised by Tadej Pogacar’s decision to try to win both Grand Tours without having succeeded in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Tour de France.
“No, he is a champion, for him, everything is possible. What is certain is that in recent years, few have tried. The combination now is more Tour-Vuelta, but it’s not the same thing. The Vuelta is not the Giro; it emerges as the last big stage of the season, good riders win there, of course, but the Giro, due to the routes, tradition, pressure, and other factors, is the Giro.”
Does he attempt at the right time?
“Yes, for two reasons. I believe that the Giro is a much more suitable race for him than the Tour: spring is a period in which he can find excellent conditions and express the best of himself.
“The organizers, with the director Mauro Vegni at the helm, designed a perfect route for him: immediately Oropa, two long time trials, and a not too tough following week. In recent years, the toughness of the routes has often discouraged strong riders from tackling the interior of Italy.”
Pogacar lost the last two editions of the Tour to Vingegaard: isn’t there a risk of losing again after the efforts of the Giro?
“Of course, but don’t consider it a variable: Tadej is a champion and thinks like a champion. He knows that this way he would become a legend with Coppi, Merckx, and the other 5. He also knows that by arriving at the Tour with the pink jersey, he would ride with more serenity, reversing some of the pressure on his Danish rival, who is also very strong because he only prepares for that Grand Tour per year,” concludes Saronni.