‘I felt super strong’ – Tadej Pogačar emerges from Giro d’Italia an improved Grand Tour rider

Until this Sunday, it had been nearly three years since Tadej Pogačar won a Grand Tour. He’s long been considered one of the strongest Grand Tour riders of this generation, but the fact remains, that he had gone through a 34-month drought when it comes to victories.

Securing his first Giro d'Italia victory in Rome, however, the Slovenian has finally changed that, and in doing so he seems to have finished this race a stronger, more confident and more mature rider.

Just under a year on from a Tour de France where he proclaimed “I’m gone, I’m dead” in a memorable crack, Pogačar was faultless this whole race.

“As a rider, I felt super strong and comfortable on the bike through three weeks,” he said in his winner’s press conference when asked what he would take from this Giro.

“I must say that I was really comfortable and in the spot where I had to be so I think I can take a lot from this race about the performance and how I feel on the bike and just the feeling of riding. I think after a good rest I can even improve this feeling maybe, so I'm really on a good path for the next part of the season as well.”

Read more: ‘I’m still growing up’ – Tadej Pogačar wins Giro d’Italia with more left to give

As well as improving his condition, Pogačar spoke on Saturday about how he was still growing up, and certainly seems to have matured in this race – he knows what he’s doing, his riding is perhaps less playful, and he’s more focused on executing a plan.

“Every race gives you experience, and also this one gave me more experience. You grow into a race when it's three weeks. Maybe I did another step up this Giro, as a man like you said. I think after this Giro I will see how I feel and if I really grew up more.”

What that next part of the season is has been known for months: the Tour de France. After winning in 2020 and 2021, Pogačar was defeated in the Tour in 2022 and 2023, and trying to reclaim the yellow jersey is probably already more important to the 25-year-old than the pink one he just won.

In both his press conferences on Saturday and Sunday, Pogačar was already talking about performance gains and improvements towards the Tour, before he even left Rome. A rest will follow – during which he hopes his Giro win will finally sink in – but thoughts are already on the rebuild into July.

Read more: The final GC standings at the Giro d'Italia

“Now a few days of complete switch off and relax a bit, and then slowly rebuild and restart and try to keep these legs and even improve if it's possible. We will see the sensations when I restart,” he said on Sunday.

Though all eyes are now firmly on the Tour, Pogačar did hint at a return to the Giro in the future, having reflected on the good experience in Italy, soaking in the parcours and the plenty of Slovenian fans that came to support him.

“I think I just might return to the Giro one day,” he said. “Let's see how this season goes and how it affects other plans for the season, so we will see. It was a beautiful race, beautiful moments and for sure I can maybe relive them again in the future.”

For everything you need to know about the 2024 Giro d'Italia, from the history of the race to this year's route and start list, be sure to check out our dedicated race hub.