More than 'next gen', or new cycling frontery, perhaps it would be better to simply call it confirmation of certain values expressed in 2020. Which comes from the impervious roads of the 56 / a Tirreno-Adriatico, where today Tadej Pogacar, the young and irreverent, triumphed. Slovenian talent who, a few months ago was 'le roi' at the Tour de France disputed at the time - which unfortunately persist - of the pandemic.
Pogacar inaugurated the 2021 competitive season by winning the only race held in the Middle East, namely the Rcs Sport UAE Tour, and repeated in the so-called 'Race of the two seas', where he overturned the general classification as he had done in the Grande Blucle last year, removing the scepter from Wout Van Aert.
The Flemish must still be granted the honor of arms, because he fought to the last meter and the confirmation (another) comes from today's time trial in San Benedetto del Tronto, where he triumphed in front of specialists of the caliber of the Swiss, and European champion, Stefan Kung, at 6 ", and world champion Filippo Ganna, at 11".
Pogacar responded on his part, signing the fourth fastest time, just 12 "behind the winner.
In the general Van aert was placed at 1'03" from the Slovenian, with the Spaniard Mikel Landa at 3'57 "and the Colombian Egan Bernal , also winner of a Tour, but in 2019, at 4'13 ".
Surprising, in some ways, the fifth place of Matteo Fabbro, first of the Italians, at 4'37 ". To get to Vincenzo Nibali, who won the Tirreno-Adriatico a couple of times in his career, you have to climb up to ninth place: the driver from Messina made up a gap of 6'30 "from Pogacar.
The great cycling season continues on Saturday with the Milan-Sanremo which will not see Pogacar at the starting line and therefore appears more than ever open to any verdict.