The city of Turin was in festive mood to watch home rider Filippo Ganna blaze into the lead on the first stage of the Giro d’Italia last weekend.
‘Emphatic’ is the only word for the Ineos Grenadier’s win in the short 8.6km city centre time trial, which saw him beat Jumbo-Visma pairing Edoardo Affii and Tobias Foss into second and third by 10 and 13 seconds respectively – significant margins over such a short distance.
It was the Italian’s fifth Giro stage win, following the four he won in last year’s race, which included all three-time trials.
“The radio was not working much,” Ganna revealed afterwards, “so I said ‘Filippo, go full gas’, listening to the people at the side of the road. I was able to arrive with this amazing victory.”
Indeed, the 24-year-old powerhouse even found the time to wave to fans at the side of the road.
Ganna added: “After [the Tour de] Romandie, my power was not so high. Now it’s back and I’m really happy. It felt like a long time waiting in the hot seat for the stage to finish. But I’m here and I’m really happy.”
Denne historien er fra May 13, 2021-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 13, 2021-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain
