Tadej Pogačar wasn't born when Marco Pantani completed the Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double in 1998. However, their careers will somehow follow the same road and draw constant comparisons over the next three weeks as the Slovenian attempts to become the first rider since 'Il Pirata' to achieve one of cycling's most difficult feats.
Just seven riders have managed to complete the Giro-Tour double in the same season, the others being Fausto Coppi (in 1949 and 1952), Jacques Anquetil (1964), Eddy Merckx (1970, 1972 and 1974), Bernard Hinault (1982 and 1985), Stephen Roche (1987), Miguel Indurain (1992 and 1993 ) and Pantani in 1998.
