photo credits @ La Vuelta
Two-time world champion time trialist Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) showed his prowess in today’s stage 18 time trial in Valladolid. The Italian had already won a 25.8-kilometer time trial here in 2023, repeating it today over a shorter distance (12.2 kilometers) with an average speed of 56.2 km/h, taking his eighth Grand Tour individual time trial victory.
Every detail counted as his runner-up, Jay Vine (UAE Emirates XRG), lost by less than a second, while Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates XRG) completed the day’s podium ahead of French champion Bruno Armirail (Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale).
Meanwhile, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished ninth, losing 10 seconds to his Portuguese rival, and reducing his advantage in the general classification to 40 seconds.
Elsewhere, the top five GC remained unchanged with three stages remaining, including the ascent to the Bola del Mundo, which promises to be a great battle between the favorites.
Race Highlights
No fewer than 14 national individual time trial champions hit the streets today, with Dutch champion Dan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) setting the first benchmark of 13 minutes and 19 seconds. However, Ganna later overtook him with a best new time of 13 minutes.
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) later fought hard to nix Ganna’s time, but the Swiss rider fell 12 seconds short.
Next came Armirail, who fell short by 10 seconds, followed by Vine who also missed the mark by the slightest of margins.
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