Mauro Vegni believes that the Slovenian ‘could show his talent by winning’ two of the three main races in world cycling in the same year.
Mauro Vegni, director of the Giro, has regretted that the main Italian riders do not have the pink race among their plans this season, while he has challenged the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar to try the double Giro-Tour. The manager has not been satisfied with the plans that are unveiling most of the figures of the international squad, especially those who have stood out in Italy in recent seasons.
Only Vincenzo Nibali – a double winner of the Giro, but far from his best moment – has confirmed his presence in the pink race. Other important riders in Italy, such as the double world champion Filippo Ganna (time trial), Damiano Caruso, second in 2021, or Sonny Colbrelli, European and Paris-Roubaix champion, have excluded the fight for the sweater pink in 2022.
“I can’t find any logic in Caruso’s absence. It is a shame, especially in the case of a rider who discovered leadership with us and who could do it again this year“Vegni noted in the newspaper Corriere della Sera.
Bahrain-Victorious will go to the Giro, which will start in Budapest, with the Spanish Mikel Landa as leader and without counting on Caruso or Colbreli for that goal. For its part, Ineos will not carry Ganna or Bernal either, since the winner of the Giro 2021 will point to the Tour.
“I understand the choice of Ineos, because Ganna honored our career and it is right for me to try other paths, but I understand less about Bahrain’s position with Colbrelli. Especially if the final victory is not sought, the Giro and the Tour can coexist ”, he affirmed.
Season debut for Carapaz and Cepeda postponed due to suspension of Vuelta a San Juan
Colbrelli, after a full 2021, will make a calendar based on the spring classics before starting the Tour.
The most outstanding riders to face the Giro are Nibali, Richie Porte and Richard Carapaz (Ineos), Simon Yates (BikeExchange-Jayco), Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) and Nairo Quintana (Arkea-Samsic).
The world number one, the Slovenian Pogacar, will not be present in Budapest, although the double Tour winner commented on his intention to try his luck in the pink race in the coming seasons. The Giro director encourages the champion to try the double: “I still think that a champion like Pogacar could show his talent by winning the Giro and the Tour in the same year rather than accumulating successes in France.”.
Carapaz announces that it will compete in the Giro 2022
In Vegni’s statements, no reference has been made to the Carchi Locomotive, who won the 2019 Giro and who will lead Ineos in 2022 in Italy. “It is no mystery, I think our leader will be Carapaz and with him will also be (Tom) Pidcock”, Declared the British team sporting director, Matteo Tosatto. (D)
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