In an impressive display of dominance in 2024, Tadej Pogacar made history, emulating the achievement of the late cycling legend Marco Pantani by clinching two illustrious titles – the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. This victory in Nice’s final time trial not only marked the first double since the turn of the century but also showcased Pogacar’s unwavering confidence and skill.
Joining the exclusive fraternity of dual winners, Pogacar sets himself apart as the first to accomplish this in the modern era, displaying unparalleled flamboyance and resilience. Throughout the nerve-wracking courses of the two Grand Tours, a combined distance of about 7,000 kilometers, Pogacar maintained an overwhelming aggregated lead of over 16 minutes while successfully holding the position of either Giro or Tour leader for 39 days.
The top three competitors of the 2024 Tour – Pogacar, the former champion Jonas Vingegaard, and first-timer Remco Evenepoel – fought fiercely on the picturesque roads of the Cote d’Azur. As expected, the Slovenian cycling dynamo, Pogacar, firmly held the reins.
In the intense time trial stretching from Monaco to Nice, Pogacar outpaced Vingegaard by a whole minute and three seconds, and Evenepoel by one minute and fourteen seconds, thus beating the previous champion from Denmark, who was victorious in 2022 and 2023, by a decisive margin of six minutes and seventeen seconds.
The previous Giro-Tour double by Pantani, which unfolded 25 years ago, was drowned in continuous doping allegations, amidst a period of disorder and corruption. In stark contrast, Pogacar’s triumph occurs amidst changes in the cycling world – a more commercialized, tech-driven sport now popularized by Netflix, benefited by state sponsorship, and seen successful cyclists emerging from diverse countries such as Slovenia, Eritrea, and Ecuador.
Drawing the attention of the Netflix-fueled generation with his progressive and freestyle approach, Pogacar stands as the paragon of the modern era. His achievements have emerged decades after Pantani’s illustrious feat, which occurred before his own birth. As demonstrated by his stunning performance in the Sunday time trial, Pogacar continues to captivate fans with his relentless pursuit of victory.
As events unfolded, certain riders within the group experienced the toll of a gruelling 72-hour mountaineering marathon on the Southern Alps. The strenuous 33.7-kilometre time trial seemingly was the final straw. Notwithstanding, most players displayed a positive attitude, with Pascal Ackermann casually admitting his indulgence in a pre-stage victory pizza, rather than a post-win reward.
In sharp contrast, Pogacar, just 25 years old, remained fueled. Despite securing his Tour victory, his insatiable appetite for triumph was palpable as he navigated the time trial as though his life depended on it. Ultimately, he clinched yet another win.
The numbers truly encapsulate his journey. On his road to back-to-back Grand Tour victories, he has clinched six stages in both the Tour and the Giro. This accomplishment makes him the inaugural cyclist to bag six victories at both races within the same season.
However, the daunting figure of Eddy Merckx, the unparalleled giant in the world of cycling, casts a long shadow over this Tour. His career accomplishments now find themselves up against stern competition from Pogacar. While Merckx embarked on seven Tours, claiming five wins, Pogacar has already bagged three out of five races at just 25. Merckx’s 97 days donning the yellow jersey, a symbol of the Tour leader, are in contrast to Pogacar’s already achieved 40.
Merckx, approaching 80, has already surrendered one coveted title, the record for the most Tour stage wins, to Mark Cavendish. Cavendish sprinted to his 35th victory at Saint-Vulbas on stage five. Quizzed post-race in Nice about retiring, he responded affirmativly.
The 39-year-old Isle of Man native managed to cross his final finishing line at Place Massena enduring one of his career’s most punishing final Grand Tour racing weeks. Retirement looms on the horizon, and while his future endeavours remain uncertain, he is liable to continue collaborating with his current sponsors, the Astana Qazaqstan Team.
Nonetheless, even Pogacar may concede that fortune played a role in this year’s race outcome. The Visma Lease-a-bike team, 2023’s triumphants of all three Grand Tours, has witnessed its power dramatically drained, marred by injury and sickness.
In April, an appalling high-velocity collision during the Tour of the Basque Country led to a forceful halt for three top names of Grand Tour biking: Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and the unfortunate Primoz Roglic. Concurrently, the Slovenian biking enthusiast was making significant strides elsewhere in Europe.
Despite his absence at the Spanish races, Pogacar had already established dominance in other venues, specifically at the Strade Bianche classic in Italy and the Volta Catalunya back in Spain. The signs of his success were evident, and following his victory at May’s Giro with an astonishing lead of 9:56, prospects of a consecutive triumph appeared feasible.
Nevertheless, this being the Tour, scepticism from critics, or ‘haters’ as Pogacar names them, emerged anytime an exceptional performance was observed. Pogacar added to the puzzlement when queried about his team’s employment of a legal yet distasteful tactic known as ‘carbon monoxide rebreathing’. His knowledge of the tactic fluctuated noticeably within days.
The tour also witnessed other commendable events. Eritrean Biniam Girmay bagged three stage wins, becoming the first black African participant to celebrate such an accomplishment. Furthermore, he claimed the green jersey points classification. Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz claimed a landmark victory in the King of the Mountains classification, marking the first Ecuadorian to achieve this feat.
French traditionalists argue that the modern reinterpretation, or ‘Netflixisation’, of the Tour has led to a dilution of its original essence. They hope to preserve the heritage passed down through generations, arguably incompatible with the gadget-savvy new age spectators who surround the racecourse, captivated by the record-shattering performances of the Slovenian prodigy. – Guardian
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024.