For the third consecutive year, Tadej Pogacar won Il Lombardia in 2023. Even though this may not have been evident at the time, the triumph of the Slovenian cyclist this year was greatly facilitated by a, at the very least, different liquid.
Cramps
“I got a little bit panicked. I thought I could still manage the descent with an advantage, but climbing with cramps would be impossible,” recalls the UAE Team Emirates leader to Matt Stephens in the Sigma Sports Cafe Ride video series.
Recall the moment during Il Lombardia 2023.
“The first support vehicle had a flat tire, and I didn’t know if the second one was already there. I called for help on the radio, but I thought there was no one to assist me.”
Magic remedy
Competing against athletes like Primoz Roglic, Andrea Bagioli, Aleksandr Vlasov, and the Yates brothers, among others, is a complex challenge, even under ideal conditions. With cramps, it would be practically impossible. Fortunately for Pogacar, his team’s vehicle arrived providentially, bringing with it the magic remedy.
“Fortunately, the second car was there; they gave me a mix of cucumber juice, salt, and vinegar. That really helped,” he explains. “You lose fluids and get cramps due to dehydration; electrolytes and salt work. I even got a little nauseous. I don’t usually get cramps, only during foot massages,” concludes the champion of Il Lombardia 2023.