Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), leader of the general classification and top favorite for the 2024 Giro d’Italia title, was very close to being expelled by the stewards of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
This is confirmed by the media Cycling Newsbased on sources within UAE Team Emirates and the statements from Pogačar himself, who admitted a call for attention due to the clothing he used in stage 3 last Monday.
The combination between pink and violet was a trend on social networks, in which a debate was created between the most conservative fans and those who were delighted with the Slovenian’s bet.
Hours later it was learned that the new uniform was not Pogačar’s idea, but rather that of the Giro organization, which wanted to pay tribute to Torino, a soccer team that plays in Italy’s Serie A. On Saturday, the 75th anniversary of the Superga air disaster, a plane carrying the legendary Italian team of the time crashed near the city, killing all 31 people on board.
Despite the good reasons why the Giro itself wanted to change Pogačar’s uniform, The decision did not go down well with the UCI commissioners, who called the directors of the UAE to indicate that it was prohibited to use the culotte violet at the time of myth pink jersey.
According to Cycling News“called UAE Team Emirates on Monday night and warned the team that Pogačar would be disqualified if he raced in the pink and purple jumpsuit during Tuesday’s stage on the way to Andora.”
The Emirates team had no choice but to abide by the decision. Pogačar entered the fourth stage with the pink jersey and the black shorts of the team’s original uniform.
This Wednesday, on the fifth day of competitions, he changed his outfit again and took the game, dressed completely in pink.
Pogačar confirmed it
The variation in his competition clothing did not go unnoticed by the press, who asked him directly about the reasons for the change. “I thought they were nice pants. The organization gave me the suit and I put it on. Then we got a call from the UCI saying it wasn’t allowed. That’s why I have my normal pants now.” he told Eurosport.
What’s more, that day he wore the controversial uniform, he attacked the sprinters and turned a stage that seemed calm for the favorites upside down. “I didn’t attack, I just followed Mikkel Honoré’s back wheel. It was a good situation. I tried to keep going, but I never really believed we could reach the goal. I thought it was nice that G (Geraint Thomas) played along. That surprised me, my respects! he told the Giro’s official media.
“I tried, but 400 meters was still too much. I had good legs and this type of terrain suits me well. The attack reminded me of my youth. That’s how I used to run with my friends. “I enjoy that game.” he claimed.
Unless a catastrophe happens, Tadej Pogačar is on his way to winning his first Giro and will arrive motivated for the Tour de France in which he will once again compete against Jonas Vingegaard, Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel.
