Chessman also very strong
Pogacar wins Giro time trial thanks to incredible sprint
May 10, 2024, 8:25 p.m
Slovenia’s cycling top star Tadej Pogacar is also celebrating in the difficult first individual time trial of the Giro d’Italia and is underlining his claims to the premiere success in the Tour of Italy. The two-time Tour champion wins after a final sprint on the mountain.
With an incredible performance on the final climb, top favorite Tadej Pogacar won the first individual time trial of the 107th Giro d’Italia. The Slovenian prevailed on the 40.6 kilometer long seventh stage from Folgino to Perugia, ahead of former world champion Filippo Ganna from Italy, who was 17 seconds slower. The Berlin professional cyclist Maximilian Schachmann achieved an impressive result with fifth place.
In the overall standings, Pogacar distanced himself from the competition and extended his lead with his second stage win in his first Giro participation. The 25-year-old has a 2:26 minute lead over Colombian Daniel Martinez, captain of the German team Bora-hansgrohe. Welshman Geraint Thomas, second overall last year, is third, 2:46 minutes back.
Pogacar: “I gave it full throttle”
“I’m super happy that I felt good today,” said Pogacar after the victory: “I held back a bit until the climb and then gave it full throttle. I knew that the climb suits me better than Pippo (Ganna, d. Red.).”
Pogacar started the six-kilometer final climb 47 seconds behind. It was clear in advance that he would probably be faster on the climb than Ganna, who weighs over 80 kilograms. However, it was unlikely that Pogacar would be able to make up for such a mortgage. As if unleashed, the favorite drove up to Perugia and raised his right fist in the air as he crossed the finish line.
On Saturday the peloton has to complete the second mountain finish. After 152 kilometers, the eighth stage ends in the resort of Prati di Tivo at an altitude of 1,451 meters. The final climb, which is almost 15 kilometers long, has an average gradient of seven percent.