Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) won today’s race against the clock, setting the fastest time of 32:20 during the 28 kilometer Individual Time Trial stage in Pisa, beating pre-race favorite Josh Tarling by seven seconds.
The Dutchman tore through the course, using the wind to his advantage on the downhill section to set the best time at the second intermediate checkpoint, a benchmark that would endure throughout the day.
Behind Hoole and Tarling, British national road champion Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) took an impressive third place with a time ten seconds slower than the Lidl-Trek rider.
Meanwhile, Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) retained the race lead as the general classification was turned on its head, while Primož Roglič made up more than a minute after his crash on the gravel stage to move up to fifth overall, 1:18 down on Del Toro. The Mexican race leader’s teammate Juan Ayuso is now just 25 seconds off the maglia rosa.
Earlier, Hayter set an impressive early time, crossing the line at 32:40. However, Hoole later dethroned the Brit with a time that was ten seconds faster.
Primož Roglič was the biggest winner of the day in the battle for the pink jersey. While Roglič finished finished 1:10 slower than Hoole, the Slovenian rider made up more than a minute of the time that he lost on the gravel stage to Siena to move up to fifth overall in the overall standings.
Elsewhere, after crashing on the wet roads, Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) lost a significant amount of time to slip to eleventh overall. The Colombian was almost three minutes behind the time of Hoole and has now given himself work to do as the race progresses.
