Tadei Pogachar will make his debut as the reigning world champion at the Giro delle Miglia this weekend, Saturday, October 5.

Pogachar, a member of UAE Team Emirates, will be making his first appearance in the tough mountain one-day classic, which features multiple climbs up Bologna's San Luca to the finish, wearing the rainbow jersey he won with a stunning escape in Zurich on Sunday.

The Slovenian star, who twice finished second in the Giro delle Miglia in 2022 and 2023, will be looking for his debut victory in the hilly 1.HC Italian classic, his third participation in the race, as he looks to defend his title in Il Lombardia in one week.

Former world champion Remco Evenpole (Soudal-Quick Step) and three-time Giro delle Miglia champion Primoš Roglic (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) will also form part of the star-studded field in the 215km race on Saturday, October 5 is expected to be one of the stars of the race.

Pogachar, along with his partners, fellow professional racer Urschka Zigato (Liv-AIUIa-Jayco) and Formula 1 pilot Carlos Sainz, have already been spotted out training after Sunday's Triple Crown victory. In a short, humorous video posted on Instagram, Sainz describes the ride as “good for a hangover,” and Pogachar (wearing the UAE Team Emirates team kit instead of the rainbow jersey) laughs and agrees.

This year's 107th edition of the Giro delle Miglia is, as usual, steep and hilly, beginning with a 13-km climb up the Zocca in the first half of the race.

But in light of the history of the Giro delle Emilia, one of Italy's most venerable classics, the fall classic will also feature a 9.2km finish circuit with five lung-burstingly steep climbs of San Luca (2.1km, 9%) and a summit finish will settle the matter.

Saint-Lucas was the scene of the second stage finale in the 2024 Tour de France, when Pogachar, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma Lease-a-Bike), and Even Paul were behind stage winner Kevin Vokelan (Alcare B&B Hotels). They entered the breakaway and at one point pushed the Slovenian into the overall lead.

Once again, Pogachar's performance will be one of the most watched points of the race in San Luca.