Pogacar confirmed for 2024 Giro d'Italia

Tadej Pogacar will make his Giro d’Italia bow in 2024, event organisers confirmed on Sunday.

The Slovenian is one of the peloton’s Grand Tour greats, with two Tour de France wins on his palmares along with a third place on his only visit to the Vuelta a Espana in 2019.

Pogacar has yet to take on the gruelling three weeks of the Giro, but that will be put right when he takes to the starting line on May 4.

The announcement of the UAE Team Emirates leader’s appearance at the Giro is a huge boost to the race, but it comes as something of a surprise.

Pogacar said at the end of the 2023 season that his main aims for 2024 were to regain the Tour de France title, a shot at gold at the Paris Olympic Games and the UCI World Championships.

The Giro-Tour de France double has not been pulled off since Marco Pantini won both races in 1998.

It is not viewed as compatible due to the month-long gap between the Giro (May 4-26) and Tour (June 29-July 21). Throw in the road race at Paris 2024 on August 3, and it is a huge ask for Pogacar to remain at his peak through late spring and summer.

Pogacar has fond memories of riding on the roads of Italy, as he has won the Giro di Lombardia on three occasions, Tirreno-Adriatico twice and Strade Bianche in 2022.

He will be in Italy in the spring of 2024 for Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo – before setting his sights on a first crack at the Giro in May.