Giro, Evenepoel wins the Cesena time trial and returns to the pink jersey: “But I thought I’d earn more”

CESENA – Victory had to be, it was written, predicted, imagined, and victory was for Remco Evenepoel. The Cesena time trial belongs to him, at an average of 52.8 km/h. But the Belgian did not kill the Tour, On the contrary. He even risked losing on the flat 35 km of Romagna. Upon arrival Remco won by just 9 cents (rounded up to 1″) on Geraint Thomasthat of the golden times is truly back (the Welshman won the Tour in 2018), and for just 2″ on Tao Geoghegan Hart. Further back, but not that much, Primoz Roglicsixth in the stage 17″ from Evenepoel. The Flemish is back in the pink jersey (he was shipwrecked Lekensund), but with an advantage that makes us imagine another two weeks really open. The world champion leads the new standings with 45″ over Thomas, 47″ over Roglic, 50″ from Geoghegan Hart. 8th Damiano Caruso at 2’13” (10th of the day at 42″ from Evenepoel).

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Evenepoel: “It wasn’t the best time trial”

A very strong start for Evenepoel, who after the first intermediate was 11″ on Thomas, then dispersed in the following 10 km. The trend stopped in the final, where Evenepoel and Thomas traveled practically paired up, in the pouring rain. Remco, perhaps not still at his best after the beatings in Salerno, perhaps the very wet asphalt and his less than optimal confidence with the bike paid for it.” It wasn’t the best time trial for me” he explained, “we hoped to earn more. Two times out of two, good, but I’m sure I could have done more. Maybe I started a little too fast and in a 40-minute time trial you have to manage yourself better. In the legs we have so much effort, in the end my legs were bursting. In the last 6 km it went much better, I found new legs. All in all we are back in the pink jersey. The others are good too.”

Ineos is now scary

What is scary is above all the Ineos, who now has an impressive five men in the top 14, two in the top four. Roglic is also in the forecast, who after the uncertainties of the time trial on the Costa dei Trabocchi has brought out the best and will probably be the man of reference in the last week. But there is still a long way to go. Now the day of rest, then from Tuesday we start again with the Scandiano-Viareggio.