Giro d'Italia: 'What's happening here?!' – Concern as Tadej Pogacar visits medical car, then rubs arms

Published 25/05/2024 at 13:43 GMT

Stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia was shrouded in mystery after runaway race leader Tadej Pogacar was spotted having animated discussions with his team vehicle and the medical car. Pogacar was seen wiping both of his arms midway through Saturday's final mountain test, prompting speculation in the Eurosport commentary box that something was amiss. Pogacar began the day with a 7'42" advantage in GC.

'Uh oh' - Mystery as Pogacar pays medical car unscheduled visit

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) was at the centre of an unexpected drama on Stage 20 at the Giro d'Italia after he paid an unscheduled visit to the medical car.

The mystery began when Pogacar was pictured in a lively discussion with his team vehicle, with the two-time Tour de France champion throwing up his hand in apparent frustration.

He then dropped further back from the peloton to visit the race doctor, gesturing at the sky before being handed a tissue.

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"Uh oh. What's happening here?" said Rob Hatch on Eurosport commentary as Pogacar rode alongside the medical car.

"Because of how infallible he's been, how far ahead he's been, how easy it's looked, any slight little moment like that, a little stress, uncomfortable minute, really stands out."

'Uh oh' - Mystery as Pogacar pays medical car unscheduled visit

The confusion continued as Pogacar wiped both of his arms with the tissue, prompting various theories from the Eurosport commentary team.

"He looked fairly irritated," said 12-time Giro stage winner Robbie McEwen. "There's definitely something that's irritating him on his arms, in the crook of his elbow."

So what was the issue? A nosebleed? Bee sting? Splashes of oil off the road? Unwelcome droppings from a bird above?

It turned out to be none of those as the case was finally cracked by Adam Blythe, our roving reporter on the motorbike in Italy.

"The big problem for Tadej Pogacar is that... they didn't have the sunscreen," Blythe revealed.

Although the stage began in miserable conditions in Alpago, it soon brightened up - sparking a frantic search in the back of the UAE team car for sun protection.

With none forthcoming, runaway race leader Pogacar was forced to get some - via a tissue - from the race doctor.

"He was just getting angry at the sun, getting angry at the good weather," joked McEwen.

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