In a thrilling start to the Giro d'Italia, Tadej Pogačar of UAE Team Emirates showcased his dominance by dropping all of his General Classification (GC) rivals on the opening climb. Pogačar's extraordinary performance on the short ascent solidified his status as the top overall favorite for the race.

With an impressive display of strength, Pogačar, accompanied only by Rafal Majka, reached the foot of the final climb while key rivals such as Romain Bardet struggled to keep up. The UAE leader's solo move on the San Vito climb further consolidated his position, although Narváez of INEOS-Grenadiers remained on his back wheel. Pogačar's teammates provided limited support in the closing kilometers, raising questions about their collective firepower for the remainder of the race.

Despite the isolation, Pogačar expressed confidence in his abilities and his team's strategy, stating that they would approach the Giro step by step, day by day. The Slovenian rider emphasized that the upcoming stage, Oropa's 11 kilometers, would be better suited to his strengths and could potentially earn him the coveted pink jersey.

UAE Team Emirates manager, Mauro Gianetti, downplayed concerns about Pogačar's isolation in the finale, explaining that once the team had fulfilled their role, it was more beneficial for them to conserve energy than to stay with Pogačar. Gianetti remained optimistic about the stage, highlighting the psychological blow it dealt to Pogačar's rivals, who were already distanced on the opening day.

Pogačar's performance not only established his dominance but also raised questions about the capabilities of his team as a whole. Nevertheless, the Slovenian rider's strong showing on the challenging stage left no doubt that he would be a force to be reckoned with throughout the Giro.

The race continues, and while it is a long way to Rome, Pogačar's rivals are well aware that they face an uphill battle to challenge him. The gaps between the riders may be measured in seconds rather than minutes, but the psychological impact of stage 1 has undoubtedly put Pogačar in a commanding position.

As the Giro d'Italia unfolds, all eyes will be on Tadej Pogačar and his pursuit of victory, as he aims to maintain his remarkable form in the days to come.