Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) dealt a knockout blow to his GC rivals on the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, soloing to victory on the queen stage in Livigno.
The Slovenian attacked with 14km to go on the ultimate climb on stage 15, a day that counted 5,400m elevation, and ended after over six hours of racing.
Throughout the road, Pogačar’s benefit was jaw-dropping – nearly three minutes to his fellow GC rivals, who scrapped for seconds behind.
“As we speak was the most effective days for me – not the entire day, I’d not say the very best day of my profession, nevertheless it was a very nice stage, a extremely good route, good climbs,” he mentioned afterwards.
The victory marked the UAE Staff Emirates rider’s fourth on debut on the Italian Grand Tour, and his most resounding. His profitable margin meant he doubled his lead over Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), who went into the stage 3-41 down, and now trails by 6-41.
“The group did a super-good job,” Pogačar continued. “We had this stage in thoughts since, I do not know, December or no matter. I am super-happy that we saved it underneath management. It was a extremely sturdy breakaway, however I gave all of it within the final 10km or so, 15km. I am super-happy that I might win a queen stage in Livigno, one in all my favorite locations in Italy.”
Nairo Quintana (Movistar), winner of the pink jersey in 2014, completed second to Pogačar, having led the race solo from the breakaway.
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Talking concerning the day’s runner-up, Pogačar recalled reminiscences of watching the Colombian a decade in the past. “I used to be watching the time when [Chris] Froomey and Quintana have been attacking one another, however at all times attacking too near the end. I used to be actually offended with Quintana, he was not making an attempt to go from distance,” he smiled.
“As we speak, he did a super-good job, really. He did an amazingly good experience. Additionally [Georg] Steinhauser [of EF Education-EasyPost], third place for him, I feel this was a superb experience as properly. A couple of honourable mentions immediately for positive.”
Pogačar now heads into the second relaxation day with a lead of just about seven minutes over Thomas and Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe). With only a week to go till the race concludes, it is a lead that’s more likely to be unassailable.
The way it occurred
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
On the stage begin in Manerba del Garda, the melody of ‘The Remaining Countdown’ rung out among the many riders, performed by a spectator with an air horn.
It was a frightening tune, however an apt one forward of a leg-sapping time out via the mountains. Over the following 222km, the riders would climb 5,400m – greater than half the peak of Mount Everest – to a summit end in Livigno.
An early breakaway fashioned, made up of 12 riders together with Brits Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ) and Harrison Wooden (Cofidis). On the opening categorised ramps, the escapees have been caught by a mega chasing group, round 50 riders in measurement, and the entrance group swelled.
The primary mountains check got here on the mythic Passo del Mortirolo, which started with 79km to go. Little motion got here on the climb, earlier than the entrance pack strung out on the descent, leaving 18 riders out entrance. Amongst them, have been mountain goats Juanpe López (Lidl-Trek), Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Michael Storer (Tudor Professional Biking), the very best positioned escapee on GC at 9 minutes down.
On the foot of the ultimate climb, the Passo di Foscagno, Georg Steinhauser (EF Training-EasyPost) gritted his enamel and sailed away from his breakaway companions. Storer and Quintana set out in pursuit, with the Colombian then tapping out a rhythm to set himself solo.
Quintana’s benefit sat at round three minutes, a wholesome lead on a standard day, however not for what was about to occur.
With 14km to go, Rafał Majka (UAE Staff Emirates) peeled off the entrance of the GC group, making approach for Pogačar to writhe violently up the street. Instantly, the bike lengths stretched out, and earlier than lengthy, the Slovenian was whipping previous the stragglers from the early breakaway.
Underneath the 2km to go banner, Pogačar made the catch to Quintana, however didn’t let up. No, he stomped forward, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, to prevail alone on the 19% gradients of the stage’s finale.
Quintana crawled house 29 seconds later, with remainder of the GC group three minutes in arrears.
Outcomes
Giro d’Italia 2024, stage 15: Manerba del Garda > Livigno (222km)
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates, in 6-11-43
2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, +29s
3. Georg Steinhauser (Ger) EF Training-EasyPost, +2-32
4. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, +2-47
5. Dani Martínez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +2-50
6. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at identical time
7. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +2-58
8. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, at identical time
9. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +3-05
10. Jan Hirt (Cze) Soudal Fast-Step, +3-20
Basic classification after stage 15
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates, in 56:11:46
2. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers, +6-41
3. Daniel Martinez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +6-56
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, +7-43
5. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) bahrain Victorious, +9-27
6. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +9-45
7. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, +10-49
8. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco-AIUla, +11-11
9. Einer Rubio (Col) Movistar, +12-13
10. Jan Hirt (Cze) Soudal Fast-Step, +13-11
