The poet Eugenio Montale once described Turin as a city of paradoxes, a place simultaneously both conservative and avant-garde, a town that defied summation in a few brief notes. Perhaps it was only fitting, then, that Tadej Pogačar’s visit to the city by the Po on the opening day of the 2024 Giro d’Italia was one of conflicting sensations.
His annoyance at missing out on stage victory against Jhonatan Narváez was palpable as he freewheeled through the finish area on Corso Moncalieri, and his ‘failure’ to claim the maglia rosa from the very outset of the race will be hopefully seized upon by some as proof that Pogačar, though the overwhelming favourite, is far from unbeatable on this Giro.
