BOLOGNA – Twenty-four, like the number of victories this season. Twenty-four, like the hours we mere mortals spend achieving the feats he accomplishes in every match. Eighty-seven like the victories in his career. Eighty-seven like the kilometers of solo escapes totaled in the last two races disputed (in Zurich they were 100 of those of the attack, about 50 of those alone). In the midst of the fog and rain of the Colle di San Luca stands out the rainbow of Tadej Pogacar who triumphs at Giro dell'Emilia with his trademark.
The Bologna classic was in fact the revenge of the Zurich world championship, with the exception of a few absences, but for the leader of the UAE Team Emirates nothing has changed except his flaming rainbow jerseyAll the most likely opponents on paper – above all Evenepoel and Roglic, who had already won on the San Luca four times, including the time trial at the 2019 Giro – literally disappeared amid the low clouds. Or crushed by the Slovenian bulldozer, if you prefer. He took care of holding the Italian flag high with honor Davide Piganzoli, third at the finish line behind Tom PidcockIt was a huge satisfaction for the Valtellina native of Polti-Kometa to be on the podium alongside the world champion and the Olympic MTB champion.
Super Piganzoli
In the first challenge after the world championship, Piganzoli has raised again with a great performance on the Emilian roads the fate of an invisible Italy in ZurichA result he'll be able to process as the hours pass. We catch up with him twice around the awards ceremony, and although he's just the right amount of talkative, it's clear he's under a storm of emotions.
“We certainly struggled in Switzerland,” Davide says, “but today many young Italians were ahead. Besides me, there were Pellizzari, Calzoni, FortunatoToday the level was very high and we Italians did very well. Of course, Being on the podium with Pogacar and Pidcock has a strange effect on me and I know that tonight I will realise it better by looking at the photos of the raceThis podium is a dream that is the culmination of all the work we've done. In fact, yesterday Ivan Low He told me that he would sign immediately for a top 10 considering the very high level of participationToday he was in the team car and I think he was happy. I hope he says something nice to me (laughs, ed.)».
Breakthrough
«I think Pogacar is the strongest rider in recent times – says Piganzoli referring to the race – and I didn't even see him when he left, I'm telling you honestly.Personally, I knew I was in good condition and I managed it as best I could. Already on the second pass, I felt good. I tried to attack, but I realized that I couldn't make a difference., because we quickly regrouped. I decided to save my energy for the finale, I wanted to achieve a good result. In fact on the last San Luca I understood that I was playing something importantWhen I left, I told myself it was the perfect opportunity to show what I'm worth, and I managed to prove it."
Compared to last year Piganzoli has made a leap forward that perhaps not even he thought he would makeHe takes leave of us by telling us that in his season finale there are still Tre Valli Varesine and LombardiaHe wants to get some more satisfaction. Besides, as he himself confirms, finishing in good condition is a great confidence boost because it means you've worked well, knowing when to unplug at the right time.
Pogacar show
With just over five kilometers to go, Pogacar has already been flying all alone for a while now towards yet another feat. In front of the big screen after the finish line, there is the general manager Mauro Gianetti looking at her boyfriend under an annoying fine drizzleLet's make the most of those minutes before we can be overwhelmed by the unstoppable crowd.
«Whatever shirt he wears – explains Gianetti – Tadej is strong. It's a magical moment for him. He's been improving since the start of the season.He started well, then he raised his level at the Giro, and he took another step forward at the Tour. After that, he recovered and got down to work with the idea of the World Championship. And he managed to improve even more. An attack was not planned today, but the weather played its part.He followed Evenepoel in his attack, then saw that everyone was struggling and unable to keep up with him. He'll finish with Tre Valli and Lombardia. He always wants to win, but it's normal that he can't do the trick every time.The next races are different from the Emilia, so we'll see how they go. Today he was very keen on the Emilia because he had finished second in the last two years. And winning with the rainbow jersey is wonderful for us too».
The crowd bath
Statistically Pogacar is the first world champion to triumph at the top of the Bolognese sanctuary because in 1992 when Bugno won the race reached the Margherita Gardens And this is also part of his show. Tadej is relaxed at the press conference, as always. Not so much because of his statements regarding today's race – the difficult comparison between the San Luca dell'Emilia and the one he faced in the last Tour – but more because he knows manage the following of people he manages to attract every time he winsBecause we knew he would win, and how, but the fans, mostly kids, are going crazy for him. We're sure the same scenes will repeat themselves in Lombardy next week.
Poker Longo
If the prediction was obvious among the men, the same can be said for the women's race. Elisa Longo Borghini swept away the competition, achieving her eighth win of the season and her fourth at the top of San Luca..
«Today was a great race – he tells us in the mixed zone – unfortunately ruined by a bit of rain. After Zurich I would have liked the sun, but it's always nice to race in Italy wearing the tricolour jerseyI really wanted to win because I knew that Luca (Guercilena, the general manager, ed.) was here and he explicitly asked the whole team not to have fun, but to win. And I carried out the order (smiles, ed.).
«I felt good during the race, even if I admit that I feel tired after a very long season that started in February and will end in about a week.The countdown to the holidays has begun, but I'm ready to give my support to the team in the next races too, trying to achieve good results. I announced my change of team, but I will be running with the jersey of the Lidl Trek and I'm very happy to do soAnd I'm under contract with them until December 31st.
«Certainly – he concludes – the first victory here at the Giro dell'Emilia was beautiful because It was one of the few races I won in a year and I came from fourth place at the world championships in RichmondThis was the most different because it usually always ended on the last wall towards San Luca, while this time I managed to extend my lead on the descent, taking advantage of an opportunity. As I said before, I wanted to do well also because it was the last race with Ina Yoko TeutenbergI hope I've satisfied everyone."
