Tadej Pogacar is making his comeback.
On the dirt roads of Tuscany, the Strade Bianche, the Slovenian will begin his 2024 season. Winner in 2022, the leader of the UAE will be the main favorite for the Italian classic.
The defending champion, Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), will also be there, as will the French Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step) and Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Pogacar will have a solid team at his side, including Marc Hirschi, Tim Wellens and Isaac Del Toro.
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“Pogi” is thus launching its season with a different program from previous years, due to new objectives.
For the first time, the 25-year-old rider will take part in the Tour of Italy (Giro) before continuing with the Tour de France.
Winner of the Grande Boucle in 2020 and 2021, the Slovenian champion will have a lot to do to win the two grand tours.
A rare performance, since the last one to have achieved it was Marco Pantani, in 1998. Before the Italian, six riders had brought home the pink jersey and the yellow jersey at the finishes of the two races.
The white Tuscan roads await.
Here's our lineup for #StradeBianche 🇮🇹:
🇮🇹 @Filobaroncini
🇨🇭 @janchristen04
🇲🇽 @ISAACDELTOROx1
🇨🇭 @MarcHirschi
🇸🇮 @DomenNovak
🇸🇮 @TamauPogi
🇧 🇪 @Tim_Wellens #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE pic.twitter.com/9d1GRNrPiA
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) February 26, 2024
But before lining up for the Tour of Italy from May 4, the Slovenian will continue his start to the season in Italy with Milan-San Remo (March 16) before heading to Spain with the Tour de Catalonia (March 18 to 24).
He will then find the “Doyenne of classics” in Belgium with Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
After his victory in 2021, he had to give up due to a fall last year.
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After the Tour of Italy and the Tour de France, “the little cannibal” will aim for the Paris Olympic Games, for the road race on August 4, before the world champion's rainbow jersey on September 29.
A gargantuan program, where the rider could achieve the “Triple Crown”, namely winning the Giro, the Grande Boucle and the World Championship.
A feat that only Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche have achieved.