Pogacar, debut in the rainbow jersey at the Giro dell’Emilia. And his UAE is chasing a historic record

Just six days before the World Cup, the <a href="https://www.world-today-news.com/cycling-world-championships-pogacar-in-history-he-attacks-100-km-from-the-finish-line-and-wins-solo/" title="Cycling World Championships, Pogacar in history: he attacks 100 km from the finish line and wins solo”>Tour of Emilia it is configured as a sort of revenge of the world championship test. The two main protagonists of Zurich will still be facing each other, Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel. The Slovenian champion is making his debut in the rainbow jersey. The Belgian, time trial world champion, will try to make his life tough, even if there is the fresh precedent of the Tour, on the San Luca climb, to tip the scales in Tadej’s favor: in the second stage of the Grande Boucle, which at the end included the double climb of the Sanctuary hill so dear to the people of Bologna, Pogacar and Vingegaard overtook Evenepoel and Roglic (Primoz will also be at the start of Emilia).

A great spectacle promises to be made, however, over the 215 km starting from Vignola: 3300 meters of overall altitude difference. Pogacar starts with the obvious favorites of the prediction and is the great attraction of these season finale for him entirely Italian: on October 8th he will be at the Three Varesine Valleyson the 12th Lombardy. In this season finale his UAE Emirates will try to beat a historical record, that of seasonal successes: in 2009 Cavendish and Greipel’s Columbia reached 85. Pogacar’s team is currently at 77 and still has many possibilities, thanks to its captain and not only, to round up an astonishing loot. Lidl-Trek, second in this ranking, is at 42, Soudal at 33.

The route

For the first time in its history, the race organized by Gs Emilia will start from Vignola. Two Mountain Grand Prix are planned: in Zocca (at km 80.3) and in Grizzana Morandi (at km 113.8.4). The final circuit (9 km with gradients of up to 18%) includes four laps and includes five ascents towards the sanctuary of San Luca.

Favorite a record man

Incredible as it may seem, Pogacar has never won the Giro dell’Emilia in his previous three participations. In 2021 he retired, in 2022 he was second behind Enric Mas. Also second a year ago behind Primoz Roglic, who instead won the race on three occasions. Evenepoel finished 5th in 2021. The record holder for victories in the race is Costante Girardengo, winner in 1918, 1919, 1921, 1922 and 1925. Behind him, a group of three athletes made up of Fausto Coppi, Gianni Motta, Davide Cassani and Roglic himself. The last Italian to climb to the top step of the podium was Alessandro De Marchi, in 2018.

The favorites of the women’s race

Double San Luca, interspersed with Monte Albano, for the women’s race (114 km in total, arrival around 2.45pm). Starting as favorites are Elisa Longo Borghini, bronze in Zurich in the road race, the Madison Olympic champion Vittoria Guazzini, the 2023 winner Cecilie Ludwig, the French Kerbaol, the Dutch Roijakkers, the Spanish Mavi Garcia and the Slovenian Urska Zigart.