TIRENNO-ADRIATICO. Reigning world champion in the time trial, Filippo Ganna won the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico ahead of Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar.
[Mis à jour le 7 mars 2022 à 17h23] He was expected! Filippo Ganna, reigning world champion in the time trial, was present on Monday 7 March during the time trial counting for the 1st stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. The Italian completed the 13.9 kilometers in 15 minutes and 17 seconds, beating world cycling prodigy Remco Evenepoel (11 seconds) and Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (18 seconds), this week’s favorite and winner on Saturday 5 March of the Strade Bianche.
On the French side, Benjamin Thomas, champion of France in the discipline, is 12th at 41 seconds behind Filippo Ganna. Julian Alaphilippe is 57 seconds from the lead while Thibaut Pinot and Romain Bardet respectively finished 1 minute 24 seconds and 1 minute 57 seconds behind the Italian.
The runners have an appointment with seven stages in this mythical race. Regarding the route, there will be something for everyone with a first time trial stage in Lido di Camaiore, 13.9 kilometers long. Three days rather intended for sprinters will follow before two finishes where the French Julian Alaphilippe will have a card to play. A mountain stage will precede the last day of the race on Sunday March 13.
Among the 37 successes of Julian Alaphilippe in his career, only three relate to general classifications of stage victories (Tour of California (2016), Slovenia and Great Britain (2018)). So the reigning double world champion wants to correct the situation during this 57th edition of Tirreno-Adriatico where stages correspond to his profile as a climber-puncher. Alaphilippe does not arrive in the best conditions for this week, victim of a fall on Saturday March 5 during the Strade Bianche.
Heavy fall for Julian Alaphilippe
Surprised by the wind and a runner who fell just in front of him, the world champion was the victim of an impressive cabriole which will probably prevent him from playing for the win in Siena!#LesRP @alafpolak1 pic.twitter.com/POD6JRkTsB
— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) March 5, 2022
Tirreno-Adriatico title holder Tadej Pogacar is aiming for the double this year. The route contains only one mountain stage, the penultimate which will arrive at the bottom of the double ascent of Monte Carpegna: “It’s the queen stage, but on a race like this, you have to be vigilant every days. The bonuses could be significant too.” Winner of the Stade Bianche on Saturday March 5, the Slovenian will face Julian Alaphilippe, Remco Evenepoel, Jonas Vingegaard or Richard Carapaz.
The top 10 of this chrono #TirrenoAdriatico. Evenepoel and Pogacar are already placed for the general, they who are the two favorites of the event. Benjamin Thomas, French champion in the discipline, is the first tricolor of the day, 12th at 41″. pic.twitter.com/Vyjf5mscxH
— The Gruppetto (@TheGruppetto) March 7, 2022
By winning the time trial on Monday March 7, the world champion in the specialty takes control of Tirreno-Adriatico ahead of Evenepoel and Pogacar.