IT’S HAPPENING
The Giro d’Italia social media accounts announced on Sunday that the Slovenian superstar would race the Giro next year for the first time in his career. The news dropped like a bomb in the cycling world, with podcasts, YouTube channels, and social media accounts immediately scrambling to get content up and offer their takes on the report.
I almost leaped out of my chair with excitement when I read the news. Of course I argued about a month ago that Pogi should absolutely ride next year’s Giro for a multitude of reasons, but I never really believed he would take the plunge as soon as next year.
As I type this, more and more news comes out from the UAE Team Camp Media Day. Pogacar’s entire 2024 schedule has been revealed, along with his preliminary teammate selections for the Giro.
Pogacar’s program for 2024 is: Strade Bianchi, Milano-Sanremo, *A stage race to be named later, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Olympic Games, Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec & Montreal, World Championships, Il Lombardia.
*Stage race to be named later is probably Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, from what I can tell.
His program is not too different from the hypothetical one I laid out recently; the biggest glaring absence is the Tour of Flanders. It makes a lot of sense to skip that race with the preparation for the Giro paramount, and the attempt at the double with the Tour de France requiring a lot of energy later in the season.
His provisional team for the Giro does not look too strong to me, while the TdF squad is absolutely loaded. It is probably not going to be quite as strong as Visma-Lease a Bike (new name for Jumbo), but it will be competitive. As always, I am a believer that the strongest rider almost always wins.
And with a potentially tired Pogi entering France, Jonas Vingegaard is an even heavier favorite than he was at the beginning of the off-season.
There is not much more to be written at this point. I hope the risk pays off for Pogi. Can’t wait for 2024.
Jamie
Puncheur 
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