Now we have confirmation that Tadej Pogacar will participate in the Giro d’Italia next year. For the 25-year-old cyclist, this opportunity represents the fulfillment of a dream. In an interview with the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, the Slovenian expressed, “I have always wished to compete in the Giro.”
Pogacar watched the Giro in 2014
“It’s one of my favorite races,” said Pogacar, who watched a stage of the Giro in Trieste in 2014 when he was only 15 years old. “It was an unforgettable moment. The dream has always been to one day be part of that Giro peloton, but I ended up winning the Vuelta and the Tour twice.”
“So there was no time left for the Giro. I am not so young anymore. I could have done the Giro every year before. But I think now is the right time to take on a new challenge in my career.”
UAE Team Emirates wanted something different
The main leader of UAE Team Emirates reveals that the team also wanted something new. Now that is changing. “I also felt that the team wanted me to try something different.
“Don’t follow the same pattern and rhythm and repeat the same thing indefinitely. And set new goals. Doing the same thing every year wouldn’t be good for my body either. I think they noticed that in the team too. ‘Alright,’ we said to each other. ‘Let’s prepare for that.’”
Making the same mistake in 2024?
“Let me start first with the Giro and then think about the Tour,” he says. “I know myself well enough to know: if nothing goes wrong, I can do all three Grand Tours in one season. But all three at 100% is obviously another thing. You can only know that if you try. I will start the two Grand Tours first.”
“Cycling is not just about the Tour de France, even though it is the biggest and most important race in the world. There are many other fun things in racing. There will come a year when the Tour will no longer be on my schedule.”
One-day races at full strength
“With only the Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Tour de Catalunya, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, my preparation schedule is not too crowded. I’ll go in ‘full force’ in these races. Wherever I show up, I’ll try to win. Just racing ‘to train’ is not an option for me. So, I might as well stay home and keep working there.”
Watch the announcement of Pogacar’s participation in the Giro d’Italia 2024: