Cycling
Second Giro stage: Pogacar takes the lead
Giro d’Italia: Tadej Pogacar won the second stage. photo
© Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa
Favorite Tadej Pogacar provided the first proof of his strength on the Tour of Italy. Despite a mishap, the Slovenian duped the competition on his first mountain arrival.
Despite a fall, cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar took over the coveted pink jersey of the overall leader at the first mountain finish of the 107th Giro d’Italia.
After narrowly missing out on the day’s victory the day before, the Slovenian won the second stage, although he had a flat tire eleven kilometers from the finish and fell. In the end, Pogacar irresistibly pulled away from his competitors and was the first to arrive at the Oropa pilgrimage church after 161 kilometers.
The Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez from the Bora-hansgrohe team came second ahead of the Brit Geraint Thomas. The best German was Bora driver Florian Lipowitz in fifth place.
Pogacar is now comfortably ahead in the overall standings. The all-rounder is planning to win the Giro this year and the Tour de France in the summer. Experts see him as the most promising candidate for overall victory in Italy.
The tour ends on May 26th in Rome. On the third day of the Giro on Monday between Novara and Fossano, the sprinters can hope for their chances for the first time. After the mostly flat 166 kilometers, the German Phil Bauhaus could take his first stage win in a Grand Tour race. Last year he narrowly missed winning the day several times in the Tour de France.