Tadej Pogacar takes aim at more Grand Tour glory on Giro d'Italia debut

Tadej Pogacar has achieved almost everything possible during his record-breaking career so far.

The youngest winner in UCI World Tour history when he took the Tour of California at age 20, Pogacar catapulted himself to cycling superstardom in 2020 by becoming the youngest Tour de France champion in 116 years – achieved on debut, no less. He returned 12 months later to successfully defend his title.

Grand Tour success aside, which also includes a bronze on debut at the Vuelta a Espana, Pogacar has routinely swept aside his rivals in the biggest one-day races. He has six Monument titles in just four years and is the first male rider to win a road race Olympic medal in the same year as winning the Tour de France.

Pogacar's dominance is reflected in the rankings; he has spent more total and consecutive weeks as the world No 1 than any rider in history and finished the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons top of the standings.

However, one glaring omission from his many titles and achievements is success in the Giro d'Italia. That's an easy one to explain: he's never raced in it.

That will change on Saturday when Pogacar takes his place on the start line in Venaria Reale to lead UAE Team Emirates' charge, and the Slovenian is the comfortable favourite to secure victory.

He's been in typically impressive form in 2024, winning three of his four races – including his latest Monuments title in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege – and finished third in the other, the Milan–San Remo.

Unlike his triumphs this year at Strade Bianche and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, this will be no solo effort by Pogacar. Grand Tours can only be won with a strong team and he will be supported by an impressive UAE Team Emirates line-up, with every member playing a pivotal role