Take it with a grain of salt: Pogacar skips Giro, Bernal (as Vingegaard’s domestique) and Ganna leaving INEOS?
Cycling
Beppe Conti alert! The Italian journalist, who doesn’t have the best track record for breaking news in the cycling world, appeared on Radio Corsa on Wednesday with some fresh and juicy cycling rumors. Key figures: Tadej Pogacar, Filippo Ganna and Jonas Vingegaard.
First, Pogacar, who is currently enjoying a well-deserved vacation after an incredible 2024. While UAE Team Emirates has already stated that they will review the 2025 race schedule in December, Conti claims to already know Pogacar’s choice of grand tours. The Tour de France is set to be his main focus, and instead of the Giro d'Italia, he would pair it with the Vuelta a España.
Pogacar has only raced the Vuelta once, in his debut year as a pro cyclist in 2019. He immediately finished third in the overall standings, taking three stage wins and the young rider’s jersey. A return to the Vuelta seems meant to be, as Pogacar, with one Giro victory and three Tour de France titles under his belt, only lacks a Vuelta trophy to complete his collection.
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Is Ganna (also) on his way out at INEOS Grenadiers?
Mr. Conti also brought up the situation concerning Filippo Ganna. The 28-year-old Italian is reportedly contemplating an early departure from INEOS Grenadiers. His contract with the British multimillion-dollar powerhouse runs until the end of 2027, but it’s widely known that several big names are leaving INEOS. Nearly the entire staff has been given a refresh, and there is still uncertainty about the future of their star rider, Tom Pidcock.
A signature from Ganna is naturally highly sought after in the WorldTour. According to Conti, UAE Team Emirates and Lidl-Trek have already expressed interest in the time trial specialist, with concrete offers reportedly on the table. Such a transfer would have to happen after 2025. This is also with a view toward a potential team time trial in the 2026 Tour de France, which teams are already anticipating. Of course, with Ganna, you get far more than just a time trial specialist; he has also proven himself multiple times during the spring classics.
Read more below the photo.
Vingegaard eyeing Bernal as a new domestique?
But that’s not all, as Radio Corsa had more news: Jonas Vingegaard is reportedly looking for better climbing domestiques at Visma | Lease a Bike, in order to counter Pogacar’s powerful UAE train. One potential candidate whose name has come up is Egan Bernal of INEOS. The Colombian is under contract in Britain until the end of 2026.
A move by Bernal would be significant, as he has spent his entire career at INEOS, joining the WorldTour from Androni in 2017. At INEOS, Bernal won the Tour de France in 2019 and the Giro d'Italia in 2021. However, after a severe crash (hitting a stationary bus) during training in January 2022, we haven’t seen the same Bernal since.
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Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024