‘It depends on what Pogačar wants to do’ – Oropa summit finish on stage 2 will shake Giro d’Italia

TORINO ITALY MAY 04 Jhonatan Narvaez of Ecuador and Team INEOS Grenadiers and Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates compete in the breakaway while fans cheer during the 107th Giro dItalia 2024 Stage 1 a 140km stage from Venaria Reale to Torino UCIWT on May 04 2024 in Torino Italy Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) is expected to control the decisive climb at Oropa on Sunday (Image credit: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

The poet Eugenio Montale once described Turin as a city of paradoxes, a place simultaneously both conservative and avant-garde, a town that defied summation in a few brief notes. Perhaps it was only fitting, then, that Tadej Pogačar’s visit to the city by the Po on the opening day of the 2024 Giro d’Italia was one of conflicting sensations.

His annoyance at missing out on stage victory against Jhonatan Narváez was palpable as he freewheeled through the finish area on Corso Moncalieri, and his ‘failure’ to claim the maglia rosa from the very outset of the race will be hopefully seized upon by some as proof that Pogačar, though the overwhelming favourite, is far from unbeatable on this Giro.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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