Filippo Ganna and Eduardo Affini stood both facet of Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) on the rostrum of the elite males’s time trial podium on the UCI Street World Championships in Zürich. Each Italians managed to smile however had contrasting feelings.
For Affini, it was one other very good efficiency, 10 days after he received the EUC European Championship time trial. For Ganna, it was a second consecutive silver medal, once more behind his Belgian rival.
“We’ll have a beer to rejoice this efficiency. Filippo shouldn’t be comfortable about his efficiency, that is regular however I am comfortable about my bronze medal. He’ll drink to overlook however I am going to drink to rejoice,” Affini mentioned later within the press convention.
Ganna struggled to see his glass half full.
He completed simply 6.43 seconds slower than Evenepoel on a 46.1km Zürich course that suited lower than in Glasgow in 2023, when he missed the rainbow jersey by 12.28 seconds.
Ganna misplaced just a few seconds to Evenepoel on the opening flat roads, a bit of extra on the climb and particularly on the quick descent to the shores of Lake Zürich, however then pulled again 13 seconds on the flat highway to the end.
Evenepoel admitted that he would have misplaced if the time trial had been 5 kilometres lengthy. Ganna wasn’t occupied with any such speculation.
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“I might prefer to have one other rainbow jersey on my shoulders however there’s not a lot to say, Remco is an incredible rider and I can solely congratulate him,” Ganna mentioned sportingly.
“I’ve bought one other silver medal, it confirms that I am near the title. We’re getting nearer and nearer and so possibly in a yr or two I can come again and win the world title. However Remco was simply higher than me right now.”
Evenepoel jokingly described Ganna and Affini as two large slices of focaccia with the Belgian the smaller slice of mozzarella within the center.
He produces much less energy than Ganna however arguably has higher aerodynamics. The climb and descent additionally suited him higher than Ganna.
“I feel weight made a distinction,” Ganna instructed. “I did not lose an excessive amount of on the climb however I want flatter races. The climb destroyed my legs.
“I used to be struggling on the descent, so I could not see clearly and so did not take any dangers. I attempted to not lose time on the climb however I misplaced rather a lot on the downhill. When your coronary heart price is excessive, you possibly can’t see clearly and it’s important to decelerate. On the descent, I simply tried to not crash.”
Ganna was not comfortable however tried to place his efficiency in perspective. He suffered a psychological and bodily droop after working for months to peak for the time trial and workforce pursuit on the Paris Olympic Video games. With dedication and self-discipline, he managed to show his finish of season round.
“I suppose I am happier than final yr as a result of a month in the past I did not really feel nicely and stop the Renewi Tour,” he defined.
“I wanted every week off my bike so I might then recharge. I’ve simply completed simply six seconds down on Remco right now, so I suppose I might be comfortable too.”
Ganna was particularly comfortable to share the rostrum with Affini. They’ve usually shared nationwide workforce resort rooms because the 2013 World Championships in Florence.
“I am comfortable to see two Italian flags flying over the rostrum. I do not assume anybody would have believed that just a few years in the past,” Ganna mentioned.
“Edo did an excellent efficiency to win the European Championships. He is one in every of my finest buddies within the peloton.”
Affini wore his bronze medal and an enormous smile within the press convention, in stark distinction to Ganna’s air of defeat.
“I am unhappy for Filippo, that he misplaced by six seconds however I am comfortable,” Affini mentioned. “I used to be dreaming of the highest 5 once I was within the scorching seat, so to complete on the rostrum and to get the bronze medal is particular. It is also an excellent second for Italian biking.”
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