Cycling Giro d’Italia: Pogacar wins time trial – Schachmann strong
Extended his lead in the overall standings: Tadej Pogacar. photo
© Massimo Paolone/LaPresse/AP/dpa
Tadej Pogacar cannot be beaten in the fight against the clock at the Giro d’Italia. Bora professional cyclist Schachmann finished fifth.
With an incredible performance on the final climb, top favorite Tadej Pogacar won the first individual time trial of the 107th Giro d’Italia. The Slovenian prevailed on the 40.6 kilometer long seventh stage from Folgino to Perugia, ahead of former world champion Filippo Ganna from Italy, who was 17 seconds slower. The Berlin professional cyclist Maximilian Schachmann achieved an impressive result with fifth place.
In the overall standings, Pogacar extended his lead with his second stage win in his first Giro participation. The 25-year-old has a 2:26 minute lead over Colombian Daniel Martinez, captain of the German team Bora-hansgrohe. Welshman Geraint Thomas, second overall last year, is third, 2:46 minutes back.
Pogacar makes up for a big loss in the final climb
Pogacar started the six-kilometer final climb 47 seconds behind. It was clear in advance that he would probably be faster on the climb than Ganna, who weighs over 80 kilograms. However, it was unlikely that Pogacar would be able to make up for such a mortgage. As if unleashed, the favorite drove up to Perugia and raised his right fist in the air as he crossed the finish line.
On Saturday the peloton has to complete the second mountain finish. After 152 kilometers, the eighth stage ends in the resort of Prati di Tivo at an altitude of 1,451 meters. The final climb, which is almost 15 kilometers long, has an average gradient of seven percent.
dpa
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