CESENA – There are those who win and don't laugh. And there are those who don't win and are the portrait of happiness. Today's Cesena time trial rewrote the overall standings. It cast its verdicts and further inflamed the duel between Remco Evenepoel, he who has won and does not laugh, and Primois Roglic, he who did not win and laughs.
Il Tour of Italy So it goes on the first rest day with Remco returning to the pink jersey. Behind him, a few dozen seconds behind, are, geraint thomas, Roglic precisely and Tao Geoghegan Hart, all collected in 5”.
Hard days
Remco gets off to a flying start. It looks like he can repeat what he showed in Ortona. An overwhelming superiority. But then something changes. Evenepoel is going strong but he is not the usual steamroller. He struggles, and someone even gets something back. In the end, he wins, but only by a second over Thomas.
«I think I didn't manage myself well – said the Belgian at the end of the stage – I started too strong and the second part wasn't good at all."
And here it is worth mentioning Damian Caruso, An excellent tenth today. The Sicilian immediately said that it was a time trial that wasn't easy to interpret. A test in which one had to play with the limit of being out of bounds. always go full throttle, but never half a watt over. He also complimented himself on his management.
"When I hit the headwind, I didn't feel well. It's certainly not the best moment of my career," Evenepoel continued, perhaps exaggerating a bit. "Today, we can only be satisfied with the stage win. Now I'm enjoying my rest. The last two have been my worst days here at the Giro."
Right choices?
This morning there was some uncertainty about the choice of front wheel at home Soudal-Quick Step, it was even hypothesized to use the 64 mm Rapid for the relaunches inside CesenaAnd also because it allowed for the installation of a tire ideal for wet conditions. Then Remco opted for the 100mm wheel. Its rivals had slightly slimmer profiles.
While we're still on the subject of tires, it should also be noted that yesterday, on the way to Fossombrone, the Belgian used rain tires. Rain, however, never arrived. From studies done, these covers do not slide very much, they waste a few watts. Perhaps, since we're talking about marginal gains, this factor may have had an impact too?
But even if that were the case, this weekend's Remco isn't the same as last weekend, and all things considered, this rest day comes at the perfect time for him. If the time trial had come on Tuesday, after the rest day, perhaps he would have crushed everyone again. It's impossible to say.
Roglic flies
And let's go to the house of the one who laughs, Roglic. Primoz had a smart race. He took the right risks on the corners. And he continued to improve.The Slovenian didn't say a word, but he spoke with a smile. The feelings were clearly correct.
«Primoz – said his sports director Marc Reef – he's improving day by day and the fact that he did a time trial in crescendo is very important. We approached the Giro from the heights and knew it would be a bit difficult at the start. We're confident in what we've done.
«It is important to have a good recovery day tomorrow – continued the coach of the Jumbo Visma – because the next stage, on Tuesday, offers a very tricky start. The first 80 kilometers are practically continuous, and it could be tricky after the rest day. You'll need to stay ahead.
"Our goal is the third week. And we know it's very tough here at the Giro. In 2019 Primoz had raced the Romandie before the Giro and had paid a bit for it, this time we come from a high altitude camp. And in any case, he is also more mature than he was four years ago."
Finally, he plays down Roglic's alleged Covid. There's been this rumor going around for a few days now: "Ah, ah," Reef laughs. I don't know why these rumors were born. Actually, I heard it here in the group too. No, no… Primoz is fine. And I think it shows.
Ineos Arrows…
The Matteo Tosatto, sports director of Ineos-Grenadiers he rejoices. And a lot. Partly because it's his birthday and mostly because his players have been so strong. Thomas lost by a hair's breadth, and Tao followed him by a hair's breadth. Not to mention the excellent performances of De Plus and Arensmans.
"I told the guys," Tosatto explains, "ever since Pescara to stay calm, that the Giro was still very long. Some said it was already over in Ortona, but that's not the case... We need to think step by step. Remco is doing well because he's first, but we're approaching the mountains in good shape."
This morning we'd seen the Ineos on a reconnaissance. The other teams had only one or two riders. They, on the other hand, had several. A sign that the time trial remains a dogma for this team. In an S, among the Romagna canals, at a certain point, Tao stopped his bike. He turned back. He launched himself and tried entering the S again at a good speed.
"You know we work hard on the time trial," Tosatto continues. "We have important materials and a lot of study behind us, but we need the kids first. And they are there." And speaking of materials: Tao and Geraint's big chainring had 64 teeth…
