Exclusive: Tadej Pogacar ignores ‘unbeatable’ label as Giro D’Italia debut looms – ‘So much can happen’

The ‘unbeatable’ label has been placed on Slovenian rider Tadej Pogacar ahead of his debut in the Giro d’Italia.

But the overwhelming favorite knows the next three weeks could throw up a host of curveballs and obstacles.

And he is aware enough not to buy into his own hype, instead pointing to Geraint Thomas and Ben O’Connor as potential rivals in the pink jersey.

“Everyone says there is only one contender, but in cycling that is never the case, especially in a three-week race,” said the UAE Team Emirates rider.

“There will be a lot of riders trying to win. And I think so much can happen in three weeks. So many that you can’t just say I’m the only favorite and that’s it.

“You still have three weeks to ride and fight everything, everyone. Nature, the road, the riders. We can’t just say there is one favorite.”

Pogacar was a serial winner this spring with victories in the Strade Bianche, the Volta a Catalunya and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The 25-year-old is now the heavy favorite to conquer the Corsa Rosa, which starts in Turin on Saturday.

Many consider the Giro the most difficult Grand Tour, and Pogacar is just as aware that his competitors pose as much of a threat to him as the course.

When asked who he sees as his main rivals in the general classification, he quickly pointed to Welsh rider Geraint Thomas and Australian cyclist Ben O’Connor.

“Even though he didn’t show great results in previous races, he always does this and he certainly comes in in good shape,” Pogacar said of Thomas.

“He is a good time trialist and his time trials here suit him well. So I think he will be in good shape.

“Ben O’Connor comes into this year in great form. I think he steps up every year.

“I think it’s a big fight for a podium, for a top five, and for the top ten there are a lot of riders who can really be there and try to attack from far away.”

It is increasingly believed that Pogacar could become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same season.

That hype inevitably builds around someone every year, but the Slovenian has given people little reason to doubt that he might be the next to do the double.

“I know I have to do the Giro very well. I have to finish it very strong and with a good mentality. And then I will just recover and be ready for the Tour de France like every other year. That’s the biggest race of all.

“I always had in mind that everyone would be at the same level, as before or even better.”

With so much hype surrounding him this year, what does he think about the ‘everyone against Tadej’ attitude that seems to be growing?

“It will probably be like that for the first few days, but in the Grand Tours, when the riders of five to 10 start racing against each other and going into breakaways, it won’t be just about us,” he said.

“I think it’s an open race and we will definitely have to draw the most likely, especially in the first place.

“But we are a very strong team here. We are a confident, super good group and we are ready for this.”

The Giro d’Italia 2024 runs from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 26.

The race starts in Venaria Reale, on the outskirts of northern Turin, and ends in Rome.