Ganna Triumphs in Giro Time Trial; Vingegaard Fails to Take Pink Jersey

Filippo Ganna cruised to an emphatic victory in Tuesday’s stage 10 individual time trial at the Giro d’Italia, while pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard failed in his bid to seize the overall lead. Afonso Eulálio battled tenaciously to retain the pink jersey.

No competitor came close to Ganna, a time trial specialist who covered the flat, 42-kilometer (26-mile) route along the Tuscan coast from Viareggio to Massa in 45 minutes, 53 seconds. Ganna faced little suspense while awaiting confirmation of his eighth Giro stage win, seven of which have come in time trials.

Ganna’s Netcompany-Ineos teammate Thymen Arensman finished second, 1 minute, 54 seconds behind. The Dutchman held a five-second margin over Frenchman Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ United), who placed third. Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished 13th, three minutes off Ganna’s pace.

“We have done an amazing job last winter to prepare for time trials,” Ganna said afterward. “And it can be seen also with the GC riders of the team, look at Thymen in second place.”

Portugal’s Eulálio claimed the pink jersey after stage five and began the day with a 2-minute, 24-second advantage over Vingegaard. The Bahrain-Victorious rider dug deep to limit the damage and still holds a 27-second overall lead.

In the only time trial of this year’s race, Vingegaard had been expected to seize control. While he now sits within striking distance of Eulálio, the Portuguese rider defied the odds and his own pre-stage predictions.

“I’m not expecting a good time trial,” Eulálio had said. “It’s the worst possible type of stage for a lightweight climber like me. It’s going to be suffering.” Suffer he did, but with the finish in sight, Eulálio found an extra gear to power to the line. “The pink jersey is giving me strength,” he said after Tuesday’s stage.

Arensman was the big mover in the general classification, rising from sixth to third overall, and sits one-and-a-half minutes behind Vingegaard. Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) slipped from 35 seconds off the Dane to nearly two minutes adrift.

Gall had been Vingegaard’s main rival on recent summit finishes, where the favorite won two stages. The Austrian will now need to push hard again to recoup his losses.

Wednesday’s stage 11 is a 195-kilometer ride from Porcari to Chiavari, lacking any categorized climbs but featuring several hills near the finish line.