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“We got a call, this is not allowed” – Tadej Pogacar rules out attack at Giro d’Italia after bib shorts drama

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) has revealed that the UCI has stopped him from wearing purple bib shorts at the Giro d’Italia after his choice of equipment caused a stir.

The turmoil began when the Slovenian danced onto the stage before the third stage with his legs dressed in purple, creating a colorful combination with the pink jersey of his recently acquired leader.

This sparked speculation that he had accidentally worn the shorts awarded to the sprint classification leader despite being second in the rankings behind Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane).

However, it later emerged that the pink and purple combination was a deliberate ploy by race organizers RCS to mark the start of the race in Turin, with the shorts paying homage to the city’s football team. The launch marked the 75th anniversary of the Superga air disaster, when a plane carrying the Turin team crashed, killing all 31 people on board.

Speaking to Eurosport ahead of stage four on Tuesday, Pogacar said the sport’s governing body, the UCI, had intervened over the color of the shorts.

“The organizers gave us the skinsuit so I put it on, but then we got a call from the UCI – ‘that’s not allowed’.”

“Now I have my pants but no skinsuit, so I might not be able to attack today because I’m not fast.”

When asked if he was still allowed to attack with the weapon, Pogacar joked: “No, because no skinsuit, no aero.”

However, RCS Sport CEO Paolo Bellino disagreed with the UCI decision.

“We made a pink jersey with garnet shorts (the color of the Torino jersey) to commemorate the great start on May 4,” Bellino told Eurosport.

“In my opinion, we coordinated the colors absolutely according to the regulations.

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“He can’t help it” – Lloyd on Pogacar’s Stage 3 attack

“It is clear that it is a little different than in the past, but in my opinion and in the opinion of (sponsor) Castelli we are fully in compliance with the regulation, which is about harmonization and coordination.”

“In my opinion, the two colors fit together and harmonize.”

Pogacar rolled up to the run from Acqui Terme to Andora on Tuesday in black shorts.

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