SO SAD: Tadej Pogačar has been suspended today after he closed the door on the 2024 Giro d’Italia…

Tadej Pogačar finally closed the door on the 2024 Giro d’Italia after arriving home from Rome with the maglia rosa and the Trofeo Infinito in his suitcase. For a few days at least, there’s no racing, no podium ceremonies, no sponsor obligations and no media access.

Pogačar has a week to personally savour his victory and can enjoy some rest and recovery time in Monte Carlo with his partner Urška Žigart.

He is halfway to potentially creating history and winning the Giro-Tour de France double but he only has to start thinking about the Tour from next Monday, when he joins his UAE Team Emirates squad for an altitude camp in Isola 2000 in the Alps.

“We’re halfway there, now we just need to win the Tour…” Gianetti said with a smile to Cyclingnews and L’Équipe in Italy, admitting that the challenge of the double does sometimes keep him awake at night.

“It’s a big challenge, we knew that from the outset but our attitude is that if you don’t try, you cannot achieve anything. This year we set the Giro-Tour double as a goal and that’s what we’re working towards.

“Everything has gone to plan so far and so from Tuesday, we’ll start to focus on the Tour de France and completing the double.”