It’s not easy to beat Pogačar head-on in a Grand Tour!
On May 4, at around 11 p.m. Beijing Time, the 2024 Giro d’Italia S1 (Palazzo Reale di Torino – Torino) concluded. Initially, a six-man breakaway group emerged from the peloton, but all escapees were reeled in by the main group, led by UAE Team Emirates, before Pogačar launched a strong attack in the closing meters. However, Navaz turned the tables and claimed the stage victory in a surprising upset. Let’s review the race.
Pre-race Highlights
The Palazzo Reale di Torino. This season’s opening stage moved away from the usual southern regions of Italy and started in Turin, in the northwest, with the surprising departure point being the Palazzo Reale di Torino (also known as the Royal Palace of Venaria), which once served as the residence of the local royalty and houses collections from the 17th to 19th centuries.
▲Palazzo Reale di Torino
The Mascot. The official mascot, Wolfy, has become a beloved figure among European spectators with its cute appearance. To liven up the atmosphere, the organizers have offered 100 mascots as prizes during the race for online interactions. Fans can participate through the official website.
“Newcomer.” The biggest “newcomer” of this event is two-time Tour de France champion Pogačar. For him, this year might present the best chance to get his hands on the Giro trophy, with competitors like Thomas, Caruso, and Quintana. However, he remains cautious, as the Giro always has unpredictable factors that can change the course of the race.
The Race Route. The 136-kilometer route started at the Palazzo Reale di Torino, heading east and then south, passing three climbs. Of note, the teams would enter the finish arch in Turin first and then complete a loop that included the final climb, Madonna del Monte (6.1 km at an average gradient of 7.4%). This would be a significant test for sprinters, as there were still 20 kilometers to go, followed by two short, steep hills of 2.6 km and 1.4 km, where some strong climbers might seize the opportunity to break away and initiate the first sprint battle.
▲Race Route
Amid the cheers of the Turin crowd, the race began. Initially, a breakaway group of six riders, including Cammeijin (Wanty-Gobert) and Bardet (Arkéa-Samsic), formed. UAE Team Emirates led the peloton, maintaining a gap of around two minutes for nearly 100 kilometers.
▲Breakaway Group
▲Peloton
During the early part of the race, Cammeijin, taking advantage of his strengths, easily defeated the other breakaway riders to win the first mountain points, earning him the Blue Jersey for the mountains classification and the Combativity Award after a long time in the breakaway.
▲Cammeijin
As the main group, led by UAE Team Emirates, climbed Madonna del Monte, it split significantly, with Bardet and others falling behind. After the climb, only around 40 riders remained, with Pogačar accompanied by only one domestique, Majka, and trailing the breakaway by less than a minute.
With 15 kilometers left to the finish, the riders faced the last two short, steep hills. Despite Cammeijin’s brave efforts, he was caught by the other breakaway riders in the final moments of the first climb. However, Pogačar managed to bring back all the remaining escapees on his own, setting up a showdown on the final 1.4 km climb.
▲Pogačar
At this point, only Navaz (Ineos Grenadiers) could keep up with Pogačar. Despite several attacks from the Slovenian, Navaz tenaciously stayed with him. Pogačar’s former advantage evaporated, and as they descended together, Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) joined them, forming a three-man battle for the finish.