Evenepoel wins Giro stage one time trial, Vine seventh

Remco Evenepoel has underlined his credentials as a favorite for the Giro d’Italia as he stormed to victory in stage one’s particular person time trial alongside the Adriatic coast to take the chief’s maglia rosa jersey.

Australian time trial champion Jay Vine, coming back from a knee damage that has to this point sidelined him for the European season, completed 46 seconds behind in seventh spot.

Saturday’s 19.6-kilometre route from Fossacesia Marina to Ortona was the longest opening particular person time trial on the Giro but, with many of the route flat till the ultimate few kilometres climbed by way of the city area of Ortona.

Evenepoel has been in wonderful kind this season, with the Soudal Fast-Step rider claiming back-to-back wins within the Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day race final month and he was 21 seconds sooner than anybody on the midway mark.

The Belgian completed in 21 minutes and 18 seconds, a full 22 seconds forward of Italian Filippo Ganna in second, with Joao Almeida third an additional seven seconds behind.

“I am tremendous joyful. It is the very best consequence we are able to get on the primary day. We went quick sufficient at the moment,” Evenepoel mentioned.

“I felt from the beginning I had an excellent rhythm, at all times the identical gear, identical cadence. I am simply tremendous pleased with what I may do.”

Jumbo-Visma rider Primoz Roglic, one of many favourites to problem Evenepoel on the Giro, was solely sixth quickest and completed 43 seconds behind.

After the lead modified arms a number of occasions early on, Vine set a benchmark with a time of twenty-two.04 earlier than Ineos Grenadiers rider Geoghegan Hart grew to become the primary rider to complete inside 22 minutes, crossing the road in 21.58

His teammate Geraint Thomas, a former Tour de France winner, was 15 seconds slower.

Hart’s lead didn’t final lengthy, nonetheless, as UAE Group Emirates’ Almeida was a person on a mission, catching up with two riders close to the end to go 11 seconds faster.

Almeida’s pleasure was short-lived, and he watched on with a wry smile as Evenepoel obliterated his mark, going practically half-a-minute sooner regardless of shedding time on the climb.

The Portuguese rider gave his fast-finishing rival a thumbs-up because the Belgian crossed the road.

Ganna was the final man to look able to dislodging Evenepoel on the prime however he misplaced time on the climb to complete second.

Australian pair Michael Mathews and Michael Hepburn, each using for Group Jayco-AlUla had been ranked thirteenth and 14th respectively, ending a minute and 9 seconds off Evenepoel’s blistering benchmark.

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