“We are going to see,” stated Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) as he sat within the hotseat of as we speak’s particular person time trial, ready for Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) to start. “We are going to cross the fingers, and we’ll wait.”
At this level, stage favorite Ganna had been within the hotseat for over two hours, after setting a blistering 53.45 km/h tempo and ending the 31.2 km time trial in 35.02. For a lot of the day, his closest rival had been Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla), who had completed 1.18 behind him.
However he’d been on this place earlier than. In stage 7’s ITT, he had spent a protracted day in first place, solely to be unseated by Pogačar on the final minute. And as Pogačar handed the primary time test 4 seconds forward of Ganna, it appeared like the identical might occur once more. Ganna’s face, steely and tight-lipped, betrayed a few of his nerves.
Pogačar’s lead started to dwindle as he rode, although solely by seconds. On the second time test, he was 10 seconds down on the Italian time trial specialist, however the margin was nonetheless too small for Ganna to loosen up.
Minutes later, Pogačar, sporting the pink jersey, crossed the road. He’d completed 29 seconds slower than Ganna, placing him in second place. On digicam, Ganna made a small, clipped smile, elevating his fist to the air in a tiny celebration. Seated subsequent to him, compatriot Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) squeezed Ganna’s shoulder, and he raised his head to the air and breathed a sigh of reduction. He’d received.
Because the bookmakers had predicted, as we speak’s stage was higher suited to Ganna than the primary ITT had been. It was a principally flat course, operating from Castiglione delle Stiviere to Desenzano del Garda. There have been some small bumps within the street, however solely 250m of elevation achieve in whole.
“As we speak I suffered loads,” Ganna stated after the win. “I used to be simply talking with Jonathan Milan – for him it’s 70 seconds within the dash after which instantly for those who win or not. As we speak I waited two hours. Ultimately, I’m just a little bit blocked with feelings.
The most recent race content material, interviews, options, opinions and knowledgeable shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“In Italy, we have now quite a lot of time with no win. It’s an intense second, particularly right here, near the lake [Garda]. It’s like a second house for me.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a sunny, 23-degree day as as we speak’s 31.2km ITT started in northern Italy. Alan Riou (Arkéa – B&B Lodges) could be the primary to begin, with Pogačar final.
Edoardo Affini (Visma-Lease a Bike) was one of many first males to make a declare to the hotseat, ending in 36.32 (51.2 km/h). This was the time to beat when Ganna started, a few third of the way in which by the operating order.
The 2-time time trial world champion was the recent favorite as we speak, and equally well-liked with the crowds, who had gathered by the roadside to cheer for an Italian winner. Whereas Ganna rode, his teammate Tobias Foss set a brand new quickest time, beating Affini by 4 seconds. However Foss’ time within the hotseat could be short-lived.
Ganna was 13 seconds sooner than his closest rival on the first time test. By the second, his lead had elevated to 59 seconds – a time that will not be bettered. His easy, aero using model —the results of years of specialized practise— was praised by the commentators, and as he rode by the end line, it was clear that he had made a mark on the stage. However wouldn’t it be sufficient?
Foss actually thought so. “Pippo in Italy is a special individual than I’ve seen in different races,” he stated after Ganna completed. “He’s such a robust man. What he did as we speak on this type of TT – even Pogi will battle to beat him. Chapeau and rather well performed to Pippo.”
Luke Plapp (Jayco AlUla) would disrupt the operating order, claiming second place till the principle GC contenders began to journey. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious) and Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale) all put in spectacular rides, gaining minutes on the GC. Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), trying to transfer from third to second in GC —and to proper a few of the wrongs of his earlier ITT— could be pleased with the end result: he completed 25 seconds forward of Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-Hansgrohe), shifting him as much as second place within the general standings.
Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) set a powerful tempo, however crashed after taking a nook shortly. His proper leg was lower and his shorts torn, however he would full the stage and end twelfth.
However when Pogačar, the final man to begin, started, Ganna was nonetheless the person to beat, sat in a plastic picnic chair. Pogačar put in an almighty problem, ending with over three minutes on his closet GC rivals, however it might not be sufficient to take the stage from Ganna.
This was Ganna’s seventh-ever stage win on the Giro d’Italia, and his first win of the yr. His final time trial win was finally yr’s Vuelta. “You’re the man,” stated teammate Thomas as Ganna was being interviewed.
“I may be fairly content material with that,” stated Thomas of his personal end result. “I went into a number of of the corners a bit scorching, and that acquired the adrenaline going a bit.
“It was a tricky TT. I attempted to assault it at the beginning and felt like I misplaced it a bit within the center. It was onerous by the tip. You attempt to get most of it out by 10km to go, after which it’s simply hanging on. I felt like I limped for a number of kilometres to get better after which acquired going a bit. It’s OK.”
RESULTS
1. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers 35’06”
2. Tadej Pogačar (SLO) UAE Staff Emirates +29″
3. Thymen Arensman (NED) Ineos Grenadiers +1’07”
4. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers +1’14”
5. Luke Plapp (AUS) Jayco-AlUla +1’18”
6. Antonio Tiberi (ITA) Bahrain Victorious +1’19”
7. Ben O’Connor (AUS) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale +1’25”
8. Tobias Foss (NOR) Ineos Grenadiers +1’26”
9. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) UAE Staff Emirates +1’28”
10. Edoardo Affini (ITA) Visma-Lease a Bike +1’30”
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 14
1. Tadej Pogačar (SLO) UAE Staff Emirates 50:00’09”
2. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers +3’41”
3. Dani Martínez (COL) Bora-Hansgrohe +3’56”
4. Ben O’Connor (AUS) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale +4’35”
5. Antonio Tiberi (ITA) Bahrain Voctorious +5’17”
6. Thymen Arensman (NED) Ineos Grenadiers +6’30”
7. Filippo Zana (ITA) Jayco-AlUla +7’26”
8. Romain Bardet (FRA) DSM-Firmenich-PostNL +7’52”
9. Lorenzo Fortunato (ITA) Astana Qazaqstan +8’40”
10. Alex Baudin (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale +8’56”
