Pogačar Claims Dominant 2024 Giro d’Italia Win
Two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar won the 2024 Giro d’Italia is dominating fashion. It was Pogačar’s first Tour of Italy win in his first try at the grand tour.
The race ran from May 4 to May 26 through the mountains of Italy. The first of three men’s grand tours, the Giro is arguably the most difficult. Pogačar won an incredible six stages in the Giro and finished 9 minutes, 56 seconds ahead of second place in the general classification—the largest margin of victory in the Tour of Italy since 1965, when Vittorio Adorni won by 11 minutes, 26 seconds.
Behind Pogačar, Daniel Martinez (BORA-hansgrohe) was second, and veteran Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) was third, 10:24 behind the winner.
Check out the recaps of the final two days of the action below.
Stage 21: Roma to Roma, 125 km
Merlier Grabs Third Stage Win to End the Giro in Rome
Stage Winner: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Race Winner: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)
It was an epic finish to the 2024 Giro d’Italia as fans were treated to one last final exciting sprint. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) took home the stage victory in a thriller. It was the third stage win of the Giro for Merlier, who held off a hard-charging Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek).
Milan suffered a mechanical late in the race, but amazingly, he was able to return to the peloton and have a shot at the stage win. But in the end, Merlier was too strong. Merlier went first and Milan tried to track him down, but came up just short.
Meanwhile, the GC was pretty much already locked coming into the day. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) had a nearly 10-minute advantage on his next closest competitor in the overall standings. All he had to do on Sunday was avoid disaster. He did just that. The only surprise, perhaps, was that Pogačar didn’t mix it up with the sprinters at the end.
We kid, of course, but nothing would have surprised us from Tadej.
Stage 20: Alpago to Bassano del Grappa, 184 km
Pogačar Puts Exclamation Point on Epic Giro Ride
Stage Winner: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)
Race Leader: Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates)
Tadej Pogačar’s dream Giro d’Italia had one last grand finale in the penultimate stage of the first grand tour of the 2024 season. Pogačar claimed his sixth stage victory of the Giro, putting his hold on the maglia rosa even further out of reach (not that his grip on the GC lead was in any doubt).
With 40km to go Pogačar’s UAE team managed pushed the pace and managed to drop many of the other GC contenders. Shortly thereafter, Pog attacked and no one was going with him. He brought it home to win yet another stage—this time by 2:07 over the next closest riders on the stage.
Click here for the full results.
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