Tadej Pogañar dominates the 2024 Giro d'Italia, but there is always a reason for every attack and every victory. He's a cannibal, but there's emotion and reason in everything he does, not just to win for it or embarrass his rivals.  

Pogagnal's fourth-stage victory at this year's Corsa Rosa at Mottolino Ski Station above Livigno was very personal. He pointed to the sky as he crossed the line and raised his arms for celebration when he realized what he had done.

He scored another 3 minutes with Geraint Thomas and Dani Martinez, extending the GC lead to 6 minutes, but that was only the result of his actions, complementing his happiness.    

"I'm very happy to be here again and win the Queen stage here in Livigno," he said, as he recalled his personal memories of the time he spent high training in the Alps near the town of tax-free Porto Franco, close to the border with Switzerland, more than the fatigue of his efforts. A much bigger smile and contentment than you would expect.  

"I've been here many times. Livigno is a special place for me. The first time was as the first junior. We were in St. Moritz for 10 days for training camp with the national team and that was what we could afford: one house all together. We came here to Livigno with a broken old van for fuel because it is cheap and buy some food. It was my first time in Livigno and I came back almost every year.

"I also have 1 of the most wonderful memories of my life in Livigno, it was when I started a real date with my fiance Urca and it was our first date back then, it was a beautiful moment of my life.

From the start of the 22km Queen stage, it was clear that Poganyar really wanted to win in Livigno. The Emirates Squad of his UAE team rode to control the attack and keep it within reach. Then Pogagnar took off alone in the last kilometer of the Passo di Foscagno Climb.

Georg Steinhauser (EF Education-EasyPost) and Nairo Quintana (Movistar) were in front of him, but he mercilessly caught them and kept their distance, surging a temporary path to the Mottolino Ski Station.  

Poganyar, along with GERAINT Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), Dani Martinez (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R), won gc rivals at 6:41, 6:56 and 7:43, respectively.

This was the biggest time gap after the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia, since 1954, when the final winner Gianni Clerici led gerrit Vorting at 14:18. Pogañar's lead and his superiority are more similar to that of Eddy Merckx in 1973. He took the lead after stage 15 at 6:39 and beat Felice Gimnodi at 7:42.

Poganyal has led the general classification since winning Stage 2 in Oropa 2 weeks ago and has won 3 stages in Maglia Rosa. The last male rider to do this was Simon Yates in 2018. The last winners were Eddy Merckx, who won 5 stages in Pink in 1973, and Learco Guerra, who ruled in 1934.

It was suggested to Poganyal that he had now won the Giro d'etalia, or at least killed the hopes of his rivals, 1 week before his final stage in Rome.

Thomas Martinez, O'Connor and others have already raced to the podium, but Pogagnard is playfully superstitious.

"Don't jinx it. stop, don't jinx. There are still 6 stages," he said.

"I'm very happy with the big gap. But let's not think in front of ourselves. Let's go day by day and see the situation. Knock on the tree, because you do not know what will happen.

"I am very happy where I am, very happy with the team, very happy with everything. Let's bring it to Rome as it is. Indeed, seeing how the team feels, we can become more tranquilizers and go step by step."

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