Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
Whilst Pogačar was the youngest winner for some time, at 21 years and 365 days, I should point out that Fausto Coppi won his first Giro d'Italia at 20 years and 158 days, and Giuseppe Saronni won his first Tirreno–Adriatico at 20 years and 175 days. There were even earlier winners, way back.



Before Graham mentions it, I should say there were 13 years (and World War II) between Coppi's first and last Giro d'Italia wins. In the current era, Mark Cavendish has won sprints in grand tours over a 15 year period between 2008 and 2023!
So Coppi had a few years off for the war and his first win was against a field of Italians in 1940. He might have been a cycling great, but it's not a great example because in his later years he clearly had a lower cycling age than he would have had but for the war.

But to the main point, that Ineos have slipped up in their recruitment. I agree - but mitigation is that there's only 1-2 grand tour potential winners coming through each year and I think their scouting got carried away a little down in South American looking for the next Quintana - a rider who never quite lived up to expectations - much like the recruits they brought in.

And whilst Pidcock might not make it to Grand Tour challenger, maybe he doesn't even fancy it, he does have the potential off what he has shown so far.
He's relatively unexposed and as shown in glimpses he has what it takes even in this Tour. Not bad for a cyclist who's target was the Spring Classics.