It is no longer unusual for Giro d'Italia leader Tadej Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates) to stay close to the lead group of the peloton and stay out of trouble during this year's flat stage finale. But that strategy has led them to actually act in the lead group, as the Slovenian star did in Sunday's group sprint to Naples. [Vuelta a España stage winner and teammate Juan Sebastian Morano finished third behind Olaf Couey (Visma-Ries-A-Bike) and second-place finisher Jonathan Millan (Lidl-Trek). [In the final stage of last year's Giro, Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), second overall, led his friend Mark Cavendish (Astana Kazakstan) to the finish.

Pogachar was asked by a reporter at a press conference afterward why he did that in Naples, adding that he imagined it was because Morano was his friend, which Pogachar admitted was the case. He also pointed out that the particular circumstances of the peloton being significantly reduced after the main group was cut off on the hill to Naples also made sense for him to do it.

"When it's obvious and you're going to answer yourself later, "Why?" I don't think you should ask that question," Pogachar told the reporter. [He is a friend, a teammate, a sprinter, and a finalist. Today the last 40km was a super hard final, but he was super strong," Pogachar said.

"He worked for me all week and I knew I could lead out today because it was really hard and technical. So it's a lot better to be in the lead than to have a super straight, super fast, flat finish," Pogachar noted.

"So I had a chance to help him today and he took a great third place.

While Pogachar himself will head into the next stage with great confidence after an impressive first week of the Giro d'Italia, one small concern looms over the Slovenian. Pogachar confirmed that the symptoms of what he believes to be an allergy, which caused a stuffy nose on Saturday, will continue into stage 9. [It could be allergies. It's spring now and everything is blooming. But I feel good and tomorrow [Monday] is a rest day, so I'll be fine."

As for how he will spend his first rest day at the Giro d'Italia, Pogachar said he will not be going to check out Tuesday's summit finish, the 21-km-long Xano Mutri.

"The weather will be nice, and I'll go for a nice easy run with the guys," he said. 'I'll stop at a cafe and admire the nice view. It's my first time in Naples, so I'm going to take the opportunity to see Naples."

Tuesday's short but punchy summit finish stage, the climb of 1 Cusano Mutri, marks the start of the Giro's grueling second week from Naples to the Alps in northern Italy. But at least now the peloton, including Pogachar, can slow down a bit and take a welcome break.