Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) retained the Tour of Italy leader’s pink jersey after the gravel stage on Thursday. The Slovenian, who dominated the Strade Bianche this spring, was clearly not enchanted by a stage of this kind in a grand tour.
“I’m glad it’s over. This is one more stage that is being completed. It was nice to ride on the gravel. The crowd was great once again, but I still prefer Strade Bianche,” said Pogacar, who did not opt for the offensive and even considered giving up his pink jersey to Australian Luke Plapp.
“For us it was perfect that the breakaway stayed in front because I didn’t want to spend too much energy on the white paths and on the climbs. It wouldn’t have been a problem either if ‘Plappie’ had taken the pink jersey We didn’t want to waste too much energy, but Ineos rode very fast on the gravel sections and on the last climbs. So all the riders in the classification finished in a group just behind the three breakaways.
This Friday, another important day awaits Pogacar with a 40.6 kilometer time trial. “I had good legs, let’s hope it will be the same this Friday. Honestly, I want to feel good again on the time trial bike and be able to push as hard there as on my time trial bike. road,” said Pogacar, who has a 46-second lead over his first and main opponent, Welshman Geraint Thomas.
