Pogacar also unbeatable at the Giro dell'Emilia: 37 km attacking alone. And celebrate with a mortadella

Also the Tour of Emilia he finally bowed to Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian won one of the (very few) races that did not yet belong to his boundless palmarès. And to do so he started 37 km from the finish, on the first of five passes on the San Luca. Six days after the World Cup, the script is still the same. When Pogi no longer had any teammates he attacked and immediately created a void. A lead that immediately increased well beyond the minute mark. Everyone jumped behind him, Evenepoel and Roglic included. And meanwhile it was raining, a deluge over Bologna. The triumph, then, the 87th of his career, the 24th of his sensational 2024, is special: it is the first in the world champion jersey. In second place, almost two minutes away, Tom Pidcock preceded the Valtellina Davide Piganzoli (Polti-Kometa). Pogi is now expected by the last two matches of the season, both in Italy: on Tuesday 8th there is Tre Valli Varesine, on Saturday 12th Lombardia, already won in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

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“I’m very happy to win with this jersey” said Pogacar, “I felt very good, it was a good day. After the World Championship I had a few days where I felt a bit empty, but here I also had the pressure of this jersey and I wanted to do well.” The last rider to have won the first race in the rainbow jersey was Tom Boonen in 2005. Previously we must go back to Abraham Olano (1995), Francesco Moser (1977) and Freddy Maertens (1976). At the end Pogacar celebrated by lifting the classic mortadella provided as a trophy by one of the sponsors of the race, organized by Gs Emilia. Mortadella then given as a gift to a spectator.

Longo Borghini wins the women’s race

Great success for the women’s race Elisa Longo Borghiniwho in the tricolor jersey attacked on the last of the two passes on San Luca and separated the Frenchwoman Evita Muzic. Fourth on arrival was Slovenian Urska Zigart, Pogacar’s girlfriend. For Longo Borghini, third at the World Championships in Zurich, it is the fourth career success in the Bolognese race.