Puncture and crash no problem as Tadej Pogačar redefines Giro d'Italia GC at Oropa

For the briefest of moments, the Giro d’Italia provided a timely reminder that power and precision were no match for bad luck and poor timing when Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) suffered a front flat tyre and a resulting crash at the foot of the Oropa climb on stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia.

But at the finish of the legendary climb there was little doubt as to who was the strongest rider in this year’s race after a telling attack from the Slovenian with 4.5km to go distanced all of his rivals and moved the race favourite into the maglia rosa. It will take more than a sprinkling of bad luck to affect the inevitable trajectory of this year’s race.

On the line Pogačar had put 27 seconds into Dani Martínez and Geraint Thomas with a small group of stragglers finishing on their coattails.

There were much more significant gaps further down the climb with Ben O’Connor cracking in the final 1.7km after initially following Pogačar, and the likes of Nairo Quintana, Romain Bardet and Thymen Arensman all losing time.

After two stages of this year’s race Pogačar has a 45-second lead over the consistent Thomas with Martínez third and on the same time.

Read more: Giro d'Italia stage 2: Tadej Pogačar takes first summit finish and maglia rosa

Those time gaps might seem small in the grand scheme of a three-week Giro d'Italia but they are also an ominous sign of what might come next time the race hits the high mountains.

By the time Rafał Majka pulled over to the side of the road less than 20 riders were left in contention with Julian Alaphilippe, Max Schachmann, and Quintana all dispatched with relative ease. Martínez was also suffering but recovered before Arensmen slipped back for the second day running. When Pogačar kicked clear only O’Connor was able to follow with Thomas a few meters back initially. Still, the Australian was quickly set backwards before linking up with the Welshman in a powerful-looking tandem.

Worse was to follow, however, with O’Connor unable to match the pace of the chase group that soon included Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling), Florian Lipowitz (BORA-hansgrohe), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma-Lease a Bike), Einer Rubio (Movistar), Thomas and Martinez.

O’Connor would eventually finish a full minute off Pogačar’s pace with Romain Bardet at 1:20, Damiano Caruso at 1:29, and Antonio Tiberi at 2:24. Tiberi reportedly suffered a puncture at the foot of the final climb.

Eddie Dunbar, who crashed mid-stage, would lose over five minutes and with it any real hope of a top-five finish in Rome as the Irish rider's poor luck continued. Luke Plapp, who limited his losses to 1:20, might now be Jayco-AlUla’s best hope for a GC finish. 

Uijtdebroeks, who paced his effort on the climb perfectly, has moved up to fourth overall at 54 seconds, with Rubio on the same time. O’Connor now sits 10th at 1:24, while Bahrain’s pairing of Caruso and Tiberi have serious ground to make up at 1:50 and 2:48, respectively.

Stage 1 winner and maglia rosa at the start line in San Francesco al Campo, Thomas' Ineos Grenadiers teammate Jhonatan Narváez, cracked as soon as Pogačar accelerated and finished 2:03 down on the Slovenian in 30th place.

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