On Friday, the Giro d'Italia made a brief visit to Slovenia on the mountain stage to Castelmonte, but race director Mauro Veni is already hoping that Slovenia will play a bigger role in the 2023 edition and that Tadej Pogachar will go after the Maglia Rosa.

Pogačar, a two-time Tour de France winner, will take the yellow jersey for the third time in July and will probably compete in the Vuelta a España later in the summer.

Pogachar often raced in Italy before turning pro and seems eager to return with UAE Team Emirates. He won last year's Il Lombardia, the Tirreno Adriatico in 2021 and 2022, and this year's Strade Bianche.

Pogachar could become the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to win the Giro and Tour double. He is eager to compete in the Giro d'Italia after his third win in the Tour de France.

According to Cycling News, Veni seems optimistic and hopeful, although Pogachar and UAE Team Emirates want to consider what the 2022 season and Tour Vuelta double will look like before committing to the 2023 Grand Tour goal.

"There is a possibility that we will see Pogachar in the 2023 Giro.

"He is going for his third Tour de France this year. I hope he shows a little respect for the Giro d'Italia in the future. He says he wants to ride the Giro d'Italia in his career. I hope so."

Veni reminded Cycling News that most of the greats of the past won the Giro d'Italia while riding the Tour de France. Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Inaud, Miguel Indurain, and Marco Pantani won both races.

"In the past, many riders first showed their Grand Tour talent in the Giro and then in the Tour. I want Pogachar to do the opposite," Veni suggested.

"Chris Froome focused on the Tour for years, and when he was successful, he never had the Giro as a goal. Then in 2018 he realized what was missing in his Palma and ran the Giro. He won the Giro and now he is proud to have the Giro in his hands."

Veni is responsible for this year's Giro in Verona, but is already thinking about the 2023 race route.

The 2023 Corsa Rosa is rumored to start in Pescara on the Adriatic coast, visit Slovenia, and finish in Udine or Trieste after climbing Monte Zoncolan in Italy on the final Saturday.

This may be enough to entice him to compete in the 2023 Giro d'Italia, perhaps by paying Pogachar and UAE Team Emirates a hefty fee.

"For sure the 2023 Giro will start and finish in Italy," Veni revealed to Cycling News.

"There are several options for the Grande Partenza and the Grande Finale. I know Udine and Trieste are being talked about. Slovenia I have visited in the past and it is now an important cycling country.

"It might be enough to tempt Pogachar. If he does, we will be happy."