Since when has a rider not won the Giro on his first participation?
For this question, no need to go back very far in the archives: in the 21st century, Tadej Pogacar is the fourth rider to win the Giro in his first participation after Alberto Contador (2008), Nairo Quintana (2014) and Egan Bernal (2021). ). The Slovenian waited until his sixth year among the pros to register the first Grand Tour of the season on his calendar but he quickly learned about all the big events: 3rd in his first Vuelta in 2019 at only 20 years old, he won the yellow jersey the following year for his Tour de France debut. His record in six Grand Tours contested: three victories (Tours 2020 and 2021 and Giro 2024), two second places (Tours 2022 and 2023) and a third place.
