Giro d’Italia better for Tadej Pogacar’s absence says Nathan van Hooydonck: “Wonder what the viewing figures were like after two weeks. There wasn’t much left to watch”

The 2024 Giro d’Italia was nothing less than a three week exhibition of Tadej Pogacar’s brilliance. Winning a total of six stages over the three weeks, and the Maglia Rosa by just shy of ten minutes, Pogacar was completely dominant on his Giro debut. This year though, the Slovenian isn’t returning to defend his crown and according to Nathan van Hooydonck, that might actually improve the race.

“Last year, the organisers at RCS were probably very happy to have Pogacar at the start,” the former Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider recalls in conversation with Derailleur. Van Hooydonck notes however, that initial excitement from RCS might have been dampened as soon as Pogacar’s dominance truly came to light once the racing began in earnest. “I do wonder what the viewing figures were like after two weeks. Because, honestly, there wasn’t much left to watch.”