ORTONA, Italy — Pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel stormed to victory in the opening time trial of the Giro d’Italia.
The world champion will hope to still be wearing the pink jersey when the Giro finishes in Rome on May 28.
An impressive ride from the Belgian cyclist saw him obliterate his main rivals over the 19.6-kilometer (12-mile) route from Fossacesia Marina to Ortona in 21 minutes, 18 seconds.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider was 22 seconds faster than Filippo Ganna and 29 ahead of João Almeida.
“Super happy. It´s the best result we can get for the first day,” Evenepoel said. “I said I needed a time of 21’30” to win and I did 21’18” so I was quite close to my guess.
“I felt from the start that I had a good rhythm, always the same gear, the same cadence, so I think I´m just super happy with what I can do.”
Primoz Roglic, who is considered Evenepoel´s strongest challenger, endured an early blow as he finished 43 seconds behind the Belgian.
“It was hard but now it´s behind, so happy,” Roglic said according to AP. “I felt good, I´m super happy, optimistic for the upcoming days.
“For me, it was just to do my best. I did, I´m happy, 20 stages to go eh?”
Evenepoel had a 20-second advantage by the halfway point, while Roglic was already 26 seconds slower than him.
“I wasn´t really focusing on the gap with him, I just wanted to go and try and win the stage and in the end we won it so mission one accomplished,” Evenepoel said.
“Now full focus, try to get safe through this first week and save as much energy for the next time trial.”
Roglic, one of the favourites to challenge Evenepoel, was only sixth fastest for Jumbo-Visma, 43 seconds behind.
After the lead changed hands several times early on, Ineos Grenadiers rider Geoghegan Hart became the first rider to finish inside 22 minutes with a time of 21 minutes and 58 seconds
His team mate Geraint Thomas, a former Tour de France winner, was 15 seconds slower.
Hart’s lead did not last long, however, as UAE-Team Emirates’ Almeida was a man on a mission, catching up with two riders near the finish to go 11 seconds faster.
But Almeida’s joy was short-lived and he could only watch on with a wry smile as Evenepoel obliterated his mark and went nearly half a minute faster despite losing time on the climb, with the Portuguese giving him a thumbs-up as he crossed the line.
Ganna was the last man who looked capable of dislodging Evenepoel at the top but he lost time on the climb to finish second.
