The Verbania locomotive dazzles the fans on the luxurious shores of Lake Garda. Filippo Ganna, the best Italian time trialist of the last decade, won the last timed test of this Giro that is heading into its final week. The elegant Ineos wheeler scored his first victory in this Pink Racecommanded with indisputable authority by Tadej Pogacar. The local idol beat the insatiable Slovenian in 29 seconds.
Italian party in the luxurious tourist destination that collects the waters of the mountains and valleys before the Alps. Majestic mansions only for the luckiest. There where Ganna felt powerful.
The event between Castiglione delle Stiviera and Desenzano del Garda, with a route of 31 kilometres, was an excellent exercise for time trial specialists and pure riders to shine. A profile devoid of mountainous difficulties, which crossed urban areas with gentle downward slopes. The last kilometers hardly featured any curves, with the finish line located on a 200-meter straight line. An ideal setting for Filippo Ganna exhibit that power that characterizes him. The Italian faced the test perfectly coupled with his machine, saving time in each corner. A test of class, elegance and aerodynamics signed with a time of 35.02.
Only Pogacar was able to come close to the Italian earing record. The Slovenian started with a bang and then showed a declining performance. In the first timed section he led Ganna by four seconds, in the second he already lost 10 seconds and in the final one he distanced himself to 29 seconds. Pogacar was left without victory but increased the advantage over his immediate followers.
In Lombardy, Pogacar distanced himself from enemies resigned to fighting for crumbs. He surpassed Geraint Thomas in 45 seconds already Daniel Martinez in more than a minute. If before the start of the time trial he was ahead of Daniel Martínez by 2.40 minutes and Thomas by 2.56, now the gap with respect to the Colombian remains at 3.56 and with the Welshman at 3.41.
First stage for Ganna in this Giro and the sixth in his four participations in the Pink Race, the previous ones were in the 2020 (four) and 2023 (one) editions. First time he has climbed to the top of the podium in this course. In the Tirreno-Adriatico time trial he came second, surpassed by Juan Ayuso.
A very profitable day for Ganna, but also for the double winner of the Tour de France, who this Sunday can increase his distance again, with a 222-kilometer high mountain stage, with four climbs, including the legendary Mortirolo (on gentler slope) and ending at the top of Livigno.