Giro d’Italia’24 Round-Up: The first Grand Tour of 2024 is over and it may not have been of the highest vintage due to the predictable winner, but it wasn’t boring and Tadej Pogačar may have dominated the racing, the Giro was still very much worth watching. If you missed anything, here is the PEZ stage-by-stage catch up with the ‘best of’ videos.
Predictable? Yes. Boring? No.
*** See the PEZ Giro d’Italia ’24 Preview Chat With Chris Horner HERE. ***
*** You can see the PEZ ‘Giro Route Preview’ HERE. ***
*** See the PEZ ‘Favourite Riders’ choice HERE. ***
The teams presentation
Stage 1: The First Pink Goes To Narváez | Pogačar Splits The Race!
Giro d’Italia 2024 Stage Report: Day one of the 2024 Giro d’Italia was full of surprises. The expected break of the day was reeled in, and then the UAE Team Emirates put the pressure on and we saw some big names in trouble. On the final climb, Tadej Pogačar attacked from the peloton and pulled back the group in front, but Jhonatan Narváez managed to hold the Slovenian on the descent and win the sprint for the first stage and the first pink jersey. Maximilian Schachmann took second place ahead of Tadej Pogačar in third.
Stage 1
Stage 2: Pogačar Plunders The Pink!
Tadej Pogačar was a man possessed on the final climb of stage 2 to the Santuario di Oropa. His team softened the opposition for the Slovenian champion to deal the killer blow. He finished half a minute ahead of a chase group of ten riders to take the stage and the pink jersey. Yesterday’s stage winner and overall leader, Jhonatan Narváez, came in over 2 minutes down.
Stage 2
Stage 3: Magic Merlier!
After two days of excitement, stage 3 was a bit calmer, until 60 kilometres to go and there was a big split, but it came back together well before the sprint got organised on the run-in to the finish in Fossano. There was a small battle for bonus seconds between Ben Swift and the pink jersey, Tadej Pogačar. An attack from Pogačar on a short climb 3 kilometres from the finish nearly upset the sprinter’s plans, but in the end it was Soudal Quick-Step’s Tim Merlier who pushed his bike across the line first. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) was second and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) took third. There was no change on the overall.
Stage 3
Stage 4: Milan Has The Fastest Legs In Andora!
Day four of the 2024 Giro d’Italia was a little more relaxed than the first three, but there as still the necessary excitement. After the break of the day was reeled in with 5 kilometres to go, Filippo Ganna launched himself in a bid for solo victory. His plan didn’t work and the sprinters shot past the big Italian in sight of the finish line. Jonathan Milan had the fastest legs today, beating Kaden Groves, Phil Bauhaus, Olav Kooij and yesterday’s winner, Tim Merlier.
Stage 4
Stage 5: The Break Goes All The Way!
On a stage that looked nearly tailor-made for the sprinters, a break managed to hold off a fast finishing peloton by 11 seconds for the win. Benjamin Thomas (Cofidis) out-sprinted his escape colleagues; Michael Valgren (EF Education-EasyPost), Andrea Pietrobon (Polti Kometa) and Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ). Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) won the bunch sprint for 5th place ahead of Caleb Ewan (Jayco AlUla). there was no change on the overall lead as Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) finished safely in the peloton.
Stage 5
Stage 6: Pelayo Sánchez King Of The Giro Gravel!
The gravel sections of stage 6 caused a few splits, but if it had been mud and not dust… A break of three: Pelayo Sánchez (Movistar), Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step) and Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) held off what was left of the peloton to fight for the stage victory. Sánchez had the final jump ahead of the Frenchman and the Australian. Tadej Pogačar finished with the chase group to hold the dusty pink jersey.
Stage 6
Stage 7: Pogačar Powers To The TT Victory!
The stage 7 time trial was always going to be a battle for the day’s victory, but would there be any change on GC? The answer was no. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won the stage by 17 seconds from Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) and boosted his overall lead on everyone else. As long as there is no problem with the Slovenian’s shorts.
Stage 7
Stage 8: Pogačar Pounces On Prati Di Tivo!
It looked like Valentin Paret-Peintre (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was going to pull off a surprise stage win, but only 4,2 kilometres from the finish, the UAE Team Emirates pulled him in. Rafal Majka towed his pink leader, Tadej Pogačar, into the final 2 kilometres and then the attacks started from the group of favourites. The Slovenian covered all the moves before Majka lead him out for his third stage victory.
Stage 8
Stage 9: Sprint Day In Naples Goes To Olav Kooij… Just!
Everyone thought it was going to be a sprinter’s stage, except Jhonathan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers). The Ecuadorian attacked on the climb before the finish to solo to the finish in Naples. His plan nearly worked, as the sprinters only caught him 50 metres from the finish line. Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) took the win by the slimmest of margins ahead of points leader, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek). There was no change at the top of the leader board going into the first rest day. Tadej Pogačar stays in pink.
Stage 9
Week #2 Route Preview: Decisive Or A Prelude?
Tadej Pogačar may have dominated the result in the first week of the 2024 Giro d’Italia, but the race has hardly been stagnant. The third week of any Grand Tour is always the hardest, but what can we expect from week two? Here is a closer look at stage 10 to stage 15 with the Mortirolo.
The best of week 1
Stage 10: Solo Victory For Valentin!
Valentin Paret-Peintre carried on the winning streak of the rejuvenated Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team on stage 10 to the summit finish on the Bocca della Selva. Jan Tratnik (Visma | Lease A Bike) looked to be on his way to the win, but was passed by Paret-Peintre and Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL) within kilometres of the finish. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) came in with the peloton to hold his overall lead.
Stage 10
Stage 11: Marvellous Milan!
After the ‘Break of the day’ was pulled in with 38 kilometres to go, it was eyes down for a bunch sprint in Francavilla al Mare. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Lidl-Trek, Soudal Quick-Step and Jayco AlUla all had men fighting for the front places with 30 km to go. INEOS Grenadiers took control with 4K to go, but they were swept aside in the last 2 kilometres. Alpecin and Soudal pounded on the front, but points leader, Jonathan Milan shot out to take the stage victory ahead of Tim Merlier (declassed) and Kaden Groves.
Stage 11
Stage 12: Big Break Day & Alaphilippe Gets His Stage!
Stage 12 was made for Julian Alaphilippe with its short and steep ramps in the tough finale. The French double World champion made sure he was in the ‘break of the day’ and then rode away with Mirco Maestri of Polti Kometa. The Soudal Quick-Step rider soloed to his first stage win in the Giro d’Italia. Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers) and Quinten Hermans (Alpecin-Deceuninck) were second and third. Tadej Pogačar finished in the peloton to hold the overall lead.
Stage 12
Stage 13: Triple Sprint Giant Milan Again!
The profile of stage 13 was billiard table flat and was bound to end in a sprint finish. It was a day designed for Giro d’Italia points competition leader and two-time stage winner, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) to take his third stage in this Giro. Stanisław Aniołkowski (Cofidis) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) were second and third. No change on the GC before Saturday’s time trial.
Stage 13
Stage 14: TT Stage For Ganna – More GC Time For Pogačar!
Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) won the battle of the second Giro’24 time trial, but second placed Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) took more time over all his GC adversaries. The Slovenian champion now has a near 4 minute cushion. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) rode a solid test to jump over Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe), into second overall.
Stage 14
Stage 15: Typical Tadej!
Today on stage 15 to Livigno (Mottolino), Tadej Pogačar gave a master class on how to win a mountainous Giro stage and (probably) a grand Tour. It looked like Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was on his way back to redemption, when the Slovenian champion decided he wanted more stage glory and more (a lot) of time on his adversaries. Pogačar swept past the Colombian on the last ramps of the final climb to claim (yet) another stage and nearly three minutes on the other GC men.
Stage 15
Week #3 Route Preview: A Tough Confirmation For Pogačar?
The third week of all Grand Tours is the hardest and, like all recent Giri, this year week three has the most climbing. I want to say ‘the Giro is won or lost in the third week’ but the way Tadej Pogačar has dominated so far…. You never know, there might be an upset or a surprise.
The best of week 2
Stage 16: Snow And Pogačar (Again) Take The Day!
On a shortened stage 16, due to snow and rain, Tadej Pogačar waited until the last kilometres before he started his climbing turbo, dropped what was left of the bunch and swept past the riders in front of him for his fifth Giro’24 stage win. The UAE Team Emirates rider also took more time on the other GC men. Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe) finished third on the stage and moved back into second overall above Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers).
Stage 16
Stage 17: Steinhauser Stage Perfect – Pogačar Just Too Late!
Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) won stage 17 with a perfect solo ride in the finale. Just like in stage 16, overall leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), chased after the lone leader, but had left it just too late to take another stage victory. The Slovenian took yet more time on the other beaten competitors.
Stage 17
Stage 18: Merlier By Millimetres From Milan!
Stage 18 looked tailor-made for the points leader, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), but it was Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) who just got the better of the big Italian on the line. Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) took third place in a chaotic sprint. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) finished in the peloton to hold his overall lead with three days to go.
Stage 18
Stage 19: Victory For Solo Vendrame!
Stage 16 was made for a break to go all the way to the finish and the peloton was quite happy to let them. In the finale, Andrea Vendrame rode away from the other escapees to give his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team another win. Pelayo Sánchez (Movistar) finished second at 54 seconds and Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost), winner of stage 17, was third at 1:07. The favourites finished together, although Geraint Thomas crashed with 6 kilometres to go, but the others waited.
Stage 19
Stage 20: The Day And The Giro Belong To Tadej Pogačar!
Tadej Pogačar said after Friday’s stage 19 that he wanted to win stage 20. If the Slovenian champion says he wants to win then he usually succeeds. With 36 kilometres to go, Pogačar rode away from his competitors to solo to victory in Bassano del grappa. Just over 2 minutes later, the group of ‘favourites’ crossed the finish line, beaten again.
Stage 20
Final Stage 21: Merlier The Sprint – Pogačar The Pink!
UAE Team Emirates’ Slovenian champion has won the 2024 Giro d’Italia. The pink jersey even took part in the lead-out work in the final stage set in Rome, but it was Soudal Quick-Step’s Tim Merlier who won the last battle. The Belgian out-sprinted the points leader, Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), who had a big chase back to the peloton at 9 kilometres out. Pogačar crossed the line with his pink arms in the air.
Stage 21
Breakdown: The Pogačar Show Moves On To France!
The never ending trophy
I would say that you could call the 2024 Italian Grand Tour a demonstration of near total domination by Tadej Pogačar. Six stage wins, the pink jerseys for 20 days, the KOM classification and only four seconds short of a ten minute final overall victory. At times it looked like the Slovenian was playing with the other riders and that the Giro was a warm up for the Tour de France.
The Best of 2024
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