If the podium at last year's World Championships is anything to go by, without Van Aert who has decided to focus on the road, it is credible that the world time trial of Wollongong will it become a challenge between Ganna and Evenepoel? In the interview published after the Alicante test, the Belgian trainer of Remco said not being able to claim that his protégé is stronger than Ganna just because the historian is in favor of the Italian. However, he hinted that he thought so.
The two will arrive in Australia at the head of two diametrically opposed approaches. Evenepoel withdraws from the Vuelta at the last minute, Ganna after a solid withdrawal at altitude and then with plenty of time to recover from jet lag. We entrusted the analysis of the challenge to Adriano Malori, our tutelary deity when it comes to chronometers. Because it is not an easy analysis, given the technical and physical differences between the two and in light of a path that is not very simple to interpret.
Where do we start?
From Evenepoel that after the efforts of the Vuelta he could arrive with less than optimal legs, although Roglic's retirement certainly allowed him to spend less. Ganna instead aimed straight at the time trial and made a targeted approach.
Path?
They do two laps, with two jerks per lap. So there are four fairly challenging climbs that favor Remco, who weighs 20 kilos less than Ganna. But my favorite is still Goofy.
It's always said that the Vuelta gives you an extra edge...
If you run the Vuelta for the World Championship. But Evenepoel raced for the classification and let's not forget that he has been going strong since San SebastianIn short, his approach will be very complicated.
Did you see him in the Alicante time trial?
You can see that has a less extreme, but more comfortable positionThis is the conversation we had. for Cattaneo: there's no point in being aerodynamic to the max if you can't push. Rather we will have to understand how much he will earn on the tears. It could take 30 seconds on each climb, and that's why I don't like that route. It's very technical, with a lot of curves. There isn't much space for Goofy to stretch out and throw himself into. So he will be penalized on the tears and there is to understand well what the curves are like, because they could make you lose your rhythm and force you to relaunchThe curves risk breaking the rhythm of those like Pippo who might eventually recover, strong in the fact that on the straight he would arrive before his rival at 56-57 km/h.
A two-way challenge in your opinion?
I would also be careful Bissegger, which is growing and going strong on the climb. I wouldn't rule it out of the fight for the win. To beat Ganna you definitely need a champion.. And the only ones at the moment are Remco from the Vuelta and Van Aert who would certainly have had his say on that route. He could win.
Why don't you think he'll do it?
Last year he said he had not made it on the road, because he still had his leg damaged by the time trialThe long journey doesn't help, though. It's sad that one of the strongest in the world decides to give up. I think it means he doesn't care.
Ganna is coming off a rough patch. Can you rebuild your confidence without running?
It builds very well. In 2015 I came second in the world championships, having done the last race at the end of August.There is the data, there is the continuous comparison with the trainer. I saw the data, I understood that I was fine and the motivation came by itself.Pippo has been a bit sluggish this year…
Why?
Because it can happen. In my opinion they make it run too fastI don't know how much it's worth for him to continue on the road and on the track. The track is complicated. You have to take the car, drive to Montichiari, it's not as simple as going out on the road. It's not for me to judge, I've done much less than him, but maybe in the year after the Olympic gold, I would have given up the track.
Why do you think he is the favorite?
Because when he sets a goal, he doesn't make mistakes. He is meticulous and will be motivated like a beastLast year he didn't win the European Championship and we know how that ended in Bruges. And then he made the best approach, even if both solutions have pros and cons in that regard. Among the advantages of flying there in advance is the fact that Pippo will be able to try the route thoroughly.
While Remco?
It will arrive three days before the race and I don't know if he will be able to absorb the time differenceOn the other hand, he's improved a lot compared to last year. He's still composed. In Alicante he looked like a machine, he gave Cavagna an enormous amount who, if he hadn't crashed, would have beaten Ganna in the Milan time trial at the 2021 Giro. Do you know who I see as a good fit?
Let's guess: Kung?
No, he usually misses big dates. I see Sobrero well, Matteo could enter the top five and maybe even aim for the podiumPhysically he has the same characteristics as Evenepoel, the route suits him because it goes well uphillHe won the final time trial of the Giro. And then Pinotti trains him, and I know how good Marco is at preparing for certain events.
