(Bassano Del Grappa) Twenty stages completed and only one to go. Champion of the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021, Tadej Pogacar has for all intents and purposes ensured of winning the Giro, in his debut on the Italian grand tour.
All that remains is Sunday’s largely ceremonial stage in Rome to confirm his triumph.
The 25-year-old Slovenian won in style.
Pocagar once again crushed its rivals in the mountains to earn a sixth stage victory out of 20 and extend its already considerable advantage to almost 10 minutes on Saturday.
The UAE Team Emirates rider was all smiles as he headed solo to the finish line, following an attack on Monte Grappa.
He waved to the cheering crowd, extended his arms and bowed as he crossed the finish line.
Pogacar finished the 184-kilometer stage from Alpago to Bassano del Grappa 2 minutes and 7 seconds ahead of Valentin Paret-Peintre and Daniel Martinez.
This extended his overall advantage to 9:56 over Martinez and 10:24 ahead of third-place Geraint Thomas.
Pogacar raised his pink bike in celebration.
In fact, he more or less did the job about a week ago, as Pogacar was so dominant in his first Giro.
The race will end in Rome for 125 largely ceremonial kilometers through the streets of the capital, ending near the Colosseum.