Tadej premiered his rainbow jersey, which he had won a week ago at the World Championships in Zürich, in grand style at the Giro dell’Emilia. He had long wanted to win this autumn race, but until now, someone had always been stronger than him on the final climb to San Luca. Last year he finished in 2nd place behind Primož Roglič, the year before behind Enric Mas.
Perhaps that’s why this time he attacked on the first of five climbs to the famous sanctuary above Bologna and rode almost 38 kilometers alone in the lead. »I have long wanted a victory at the Giro dell’Emilia. After the World Championships I felt somewhat drained, I wasn’t quite right for four days. Then they delivered the rainbow jersey and the rest of the equipment in these colors. I started to feel the pressure, so I gave it my all to make sure everyone saw it. Already in the first race where you wear the rainbow jersey, you have to confirm again that you are the best,« Tadej said at the finish, revealing that, like at the World Championships where he first attacked 101 kilometers from the finish, he had not planned such a long escape this time.
»It wasn’t planned, we had agreed with the team to dictate the pace until the last climb, maybe I would have attacked in the penultimate lap. But Remco Evenepoel was the first to attack and he challenged me, he started it all. Then there was another attack by an Astana rider, when I saw Matteo Jorgenson in the front, I decided to go full power,« added Tadej, who was informed during the race by the support car that his fiancée Urška Žigart had finished 4th in the women’s Giro dell’Emilia.
»I am very happy with the victory in the rainbow jersey, I really wanted this. But to be honest, I am happier for Urška, she achieved her best result. Only I know how much she deserved it,« Tadej said about the double success in Bologna, celebrating his 24th victory this year and 87th career victory. The exceptional 2024 season, in which his team UAE Team Emirates has already celebrated 80 victories with 20 different riders, is not over yet.
On Tuesday Tadej faces the next Italian autumn classic, the Tre Valli Varesine, and on Saturday, the last monument of the year Il Lombardia, where he will be chasing his fourth consecutive victory.
Foto: Sprint Cycling Agency/UAE Team Emirates