Tadej Pogacar of Team UAE Emirates won the Giro d'Italia on Sunday in Rome with the biggest winning margin in almost six decades.
The 25-year-old Slovenian dominated the 3,400-kilometer tour, winning six of the 21 stages. Starting in Turin on May 4, Pogacar finished nine minutes and 56 seconds ahead of Colombia's Daniel Martinez of Bora, while Geraint Thomas of Ineos secured third place, 10 minutes and 24 seconds behind.
The overall victory was sealed during the final stage around Rome, which was claimed by Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier, marking his third stage win of the 2024 Giro.
Pogacar, hailed as a champion in waiting, took the lead as early as stage two and maintained his dominance across the tour's varied terrains, achieving the largest margin at any of cycling's grand tours since Vittorio Adorni's 1965 Giro win by 11 minutes and 26 seconds.
'I felt strong and relaxed these three weeks,' Pogacar said. 'I planned to celebrate with my teammates in Rome and then enjoy a few days at a nearby beach. It has been a wonderful experience. I loved it.'
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
