It's mid-May and we are, truly, in the thick of it. With the Giro d'Italia in full swing, and the Donnes warming up for their Cesenatico-start in just over a week, the spring has flown by in a flurry of cauliflower cars, dominant youngsters and crash-marred races.

But the grind don't stop; and the internet never sleeps. Where the Giro has, at times, been less than thrilling, the internet has made up for in spades. Jonas Vingegaard weighing in on the 'pee-gate'? Filippo Ganna heading into next week bolstered by another stage win and an honorary degree? This is a week in cycling's social media.

1. Would you pee in a bottle mid-bike ride? Or rather - could you? The Visma-Lease a Bike team break down the latest peloton drama, and tip their hats at those talented enough to multitask.

2. What to eat before a stage at the Giro d’Italia? First things first: coffee, followed by a hearty spread of smoked salmon and avocado. Jack Haig (Netcompany-Ineos) is living the good life.

3. Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost) knows Stage 12 inside out. The 177km stage ripples into big climbs just towards the finish after a coastline kick off.

4. You’ve heard of polo (maybe?) but have you heard of bike polo? Or whatever this seems to be? If you can’t bare to be separated from your bike, then this game of two-wheeled hockey could be for you. Shins, beware.

5. 50 wins - and Jonas Vingegaard can remember every one. Before bagging a potential 51st, the Visma Lease a Bike rider counts down every win, from a stage at the Tour de Pologne to the Giro d’Italia’s ninth.

6. Time trial winner Filippo Ganna has been awarded an honorary degree in the 'Theory and Methodology of Training' from the ISFOA Unitelematica International Swiss University in recognition of his Olympic team pursuit gold medal in Tokyo. Simone Consonni and Jonathan Milan also received honorary degrees ahead of stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia.

7. Custom Giro d’Italia pink work shoe, anyone?

8. ‘Full sail towards the unknown’ reads the caption on this video of Jensen Plowright spicing up this climb. ‘Don’t let the UCI see this,’ one comment reads. ‘Straight to jail.’

9. In a big week for bottle related drama (see: the first video in this list), this belated video from In Flanders Field was released this week, showing riders testing out their aim.

10. Meanwhile, away from the Giro, Kasia Niewiadoma Phinney has been on a lovely bike-packing trip – we're quite jealous

Pre-stage favourite Filippo Ganna (Netcompany-Ineos) pulled out a storming time trial to win at a canter on stage 10 of the Giro d'Italia 2026.

Despite the 42km distance – the longest Giro d'Italia time trial in more than 10 years – the Italian rider put in an ultra-fast 54.9kph ride, to record 45.53 – a full 1.54 ahead of runner-up Thymen Arensman (Netcompany-Ineos).

The stage was also billed as a big one for the GC, and it did not disappoint. Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) put in a rather average shift by his own high standards, and maglia rosa Alfonso Eulálio (Bahrain Victorious) managed to hold on to the GC lead by 27 seconds over the Dane with a tenacious ride.

Further down the top-10 saw multiple GC shuffles with various riders gaining – or losing – unexpected chunks of time.

Afterwards a jovial Ganna – who was no doubt pleased to have finished a two-hour-plus stint in the hot seat – praised his team, and said he was not done yet.

"I think we did an amazing job this winter, especially with the GC riders like Thymen [Arensman], who rode really well for the second place – like at Tirreno-Adriatico [where the pair also finished one-two in the ITT]," he said.

"It's a good victory for us here. We'll enjoy tonight and then we'll stay focused for the last 14 days."

Of the course, which suited him to a tee, he said: "It's really nice, with a long TT like this, I really like it. I'm really happy to finally find a good TT for me, without a climb," he joked.

With Friday's stage finishing in his home town of Verbania, his stage-hunting intentions did not stop today, he said: "From today starts another Giro for Filippo. Now we want another victory in a [road stage]. Why not try Friday for me – as well as another stage, obviously if it's less than 4,000 metres," he quipped.

The coastal course between Viareggio and Massa was characterised by long, straight and wide roads that dialled up the mental challenge and seemed to suit some more than others. GC hopefuls going away pleased tonight will include Arensman with his impressive second on the stage that boosted him to third overall at 1.57.

Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek) declared himself "super-happy" with a fifth place on the stage that saw him jump six places to eighth on GC, although he described the long, straight parcours as "brutal – nothing to focus on but how much it hurts."

Those who will be hoping for better luck in the coming stages include Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), who has looked like Vingegaard's biggest rival so far but who lost 1.22 to the Dane today and drops to fourth on GC.

Battling rides from Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe pair Giulio Pellizzari and Jai Hindley saw them lose 18 and 31 seconds respectively to Vingegaard, with Pellizzari static at ninth on GC and Hindley dropping two places to sixth.

The race continues tomorrow with a long, hilly stage to Chiavari which the GC contenders may be tempted to call 'truce' on, at least just for a day, and let the breakaways roam free.

Results

Giro d'Italia 2026 stage 10 ITT: Viareggio > Massa, 42km

1. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Netcompany-Ineos, in 45:53
2. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Netcompany-Ineos, +1:54
3. Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United, +1:59
4. Sjoerd Bax (Ned) Pinarello Q36.5, +2:04
5. Derek Gee-West (Can) Lidl-Trek, +2:16
6. Max Walscheid (Ger) Lidl-Trek, +2:17
7. Johan Price-Pejtersen (Den) Alpecin-Premier Tech, +2:29
8. Mikkel Bjerg, (Den) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +2:33
9. Lorenzo Milesi (Ita) Movistar, +2:42
10. Niklas Larsen (Den) Unibet Rose Rockets, +2:42

General Classification after stage 10

1. Afonso Eulálio (Por) Bahrain Victorious, in 39:40:34
2. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Visma-Lease a Bike, +27s
3. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Netcompany-Ineos, +1:57
4. Felix Gall (Aut) Decathlon CMA CGM, +2:24
5. Ben O'Connor (Aus) Jayco AlUla, +2:48
6. Jai Hindley (Aus) Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, +3:06
7. Michael Storer (Aus) Tudor Pro Cycling, +3:28
8. Derek Gee-West (Can) Lidl-Trek, +3:34
9. Giulio Pellizzari (Ita) Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, +3:36
10. Markel Beloki (Esp) EF Education-EasyPost, + 4:16

It was heartbreak for Wout van Aert and glory for Filippo Ganna as the Italian swept by him in the final metres of Dwars door Vlaanderen. Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) had attacked with around 30km to go and, while he had company initially, had held off the chase behind almost singlehandedly until 50 metres to go.

Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) had made more than one concerted attempt to bridge what had been reduced to a 12-second gap in the final kilometres. But he only finally succeeded in the finishing straight with the chequered flag in sight.

Run off at an average of 48.48kph, it was the fastest ever edition of the race.

Amazingly, it was Ganna's first pro victory in a one-day race – all the rest have been in stage races and, his favoured discipline, time trials. As well as stealing Van Aert's thunder, the Italian's victory extended the Belgian duck in the race for another year. It has now been eight editions.

"Wout made an impressive effort - to catch him was not easy," Ganna said afterwards. "All day we were a bit unlucky. In the first part, after the first hill I broke my front wheel and had to change my bike for the first time. And then I broke my handlebar" – the latter requiring a second bike change.

"I was feeling good in Gent [In Flanders Fields] and I tried to help my team-mates, and today they did an amazing job for me and gave me massive support. In the end I tried to give back all their support with an amazing victory.

He did not allow himself to believe he could win until "maybe the final corner", he said, pointing out that the bunch had brought his efforts back previously.

"I think it's one of the most important, especially in 'the University' of cycling," he smiled, holding up the air quotes. "It's really nice for me."

Results: Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026

1. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers, 184.6km in 3:48:27
2. Wout van Aert (Bel) Visma-Lease a Bike
3. Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
4. Biniam Girmay (Eri) NSN Cycling
5. Laurence Pithie (Nzl) Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe
6. Orluis Aular (Ven) Movistar
7. Christophe Laport (Fra) Visma-Lease a Bike
8. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech
9. Vito Braet (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché
10. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek, all at same time

Filippo Ganna cruised to victory on stage one's time trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, taking his fourth TT victory at the race on Monday.

The Italian Ineos Grenadiers rider was the favourite at Lido di Camaiore, and proved worth his status.

Ganna’s teammate and GC option, Thymen Arensman finished 22 seconds after, himself separated by just four seconds from Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek).

But it was the race favourite, Ganna who took first place in a show of unparalleled strength, effortlessly overtaking his minute man Alessandro Covi (Jayco AlUla) during an 11.5km time trial that he completed at an average speed of 56.2 km/h.

The race looked to be won as soon as the Italian passed the intermediate split with the fastest time, smashing his teammates benchmark, arriving to the finish line to the sound of fans beating their hands on the fences.

"I'm very happy," Ganna said. "I don't want to push the legs too much when my big goals of this part of the year [the Classics] are still in a few weeks time.

"At the moment, I'm really happy, the shape is good," he continued. "My feelings weren't the best, but Thymen and Magnus did amazingly well, too. It was great for the team."

The time trial was relatively untechnical, featuring two straight sectors linked by a U-turn at Marina di Pietrasanta. The flat-out track was interrupted by an S-bend in the final kilometre.

British national champion, Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step), finished in eighth, 32 seconds off Ganna’s time.

Among the other GC contenders making up the top ten were Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), who took seventh place, while Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) laid down a more relaxed run in preparation for the upcoming road stages.

As the first-stage winner, Ganna will wear the first blue jersey of the 2026 edition. The race awaiting him tomorrow is, for just over half of its 260 kilometre course, totally flat. But once the climb to Castelnuovo Val di Cecina begins, the course remains hilly until its 5.3km gravel conclusion.

Of the challenge awaiting him, Ganna said: "For sure, I don't want to lose the leader's jersey, I'll fight for it and maybe try to win another stage. But it's not easy, so I'll support the team as well and see what I can do."

Results

Tirreno-Adriatico, Stage 1: Lido di Camaiore  >  Lido di Camaiore, 11.5km

1. Filippo Ganna (Ita), Ineos Grenadiers, in 12:08
2. Thymen Arensman (Ned), Ineos Grenadiers, +22s
3. Max Walscheid (Ger), Lidl-Trek, +26s
4. Magnus Sheffield (USA), Ineos Grenadiers, +26s
5. Jonathan Milan (Ita), Lidl-Trek, +29s
6. Alan Hatherly (RSA), Jayco AlUla, +30s
7. Primož Roglič (Slo), Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, +31s
8. Ethan Hayter (GBr), Soudal Quick-Step, +32s
9. Antonio Tiberi (Ita), Bahrain Victorious, +33s
10. Isaac del Toro (Ita), UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +36s

General classification after stage 1

1. Filippo Ganna (Ita), Ineos Grenadiers, in 12:08
2. Thymen Arensman (Ned), Ineos Grenadiers, +22s
3. Max Walscheid (Ger), Lidl-Trek, +26s
4. Magnus Sheffield (USA), Ineos Grenadiers, +26s
5. Jonathan Milan (Ita), Lidl-Trek, +29s
6. Alan Hatherly (RSA), Jayco AlUla, +30s
7. Primož Roglič (Slo), Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, +31s
8. Ethan Hayter (GBr), Soudal Quick-Step, +32s
9. Antonio Tiberi (Ita), Bahrain Victorious, +33s
10. Isaac del Toro (Ita), UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +36s

What do pro cyclists get up to in the off season? When races are a distant - but ever nearing - certainty. It’s a time to strengthen team cohesion, to work on fitness and improve technique for a summer of back-to-back racing, and, in some cases, to go off-script - to carry the Olympic torch, or descend into the woods to heave around giant logs dressed in Celtic garb, or perform dramatic lip-syncs... Here is this weeks social media round-up.

1. Four time world champion time triallist, Tony Martin, swaps the bike for his first half marathon - his "first competition in four years,” since retiring in 2021 over safety concerns. He says he’ll be back to improve his time next year.

2. After last week’s UAE Team Emirates’ group excursion to the Dubai autordrome, Soudal Quick Step's team-building has been decidedly more rustic, with photos showing them moving heavy logs and barrels in kilts, with Scottish flags fluttering just out of shot - in Belgium?

3. Uno-X Mobility, on the other hand, are wishing the down-season away, with this hotel hallway rendition of Raye’s ‘Where is my Husband!’

4. Forget Spotify Wrapped, here is our North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook’s Sportify Wrapped: Cycling Edition. ‘You overheard 52 Cat 4 men claim they could finish a Tour de France stage ‘easily’’; ‘you logged 90+ minutes of relationship damage control because ‘I’ll be home soon’ remains your most-played lie.’

5. ‘I slipped so many times watching this’ wrote one Instagram commenter after spending twenty mesmerising seconds watching Wout van Aert balance along this wet boardwalk.

6. It’s strange to think that every professional cyclist started off a novice, but in this reel from the 11 time Irish National Champion, Orla Walsh, she looks back on her journey from commuter to track champion.

7. Downhill world champion, Jackson Goldstone takes on Wout van Aert in a game of speed and strength in this tennis ball challenge from Red Bull - but who will win…

8. In the summer, Chris Hall cycled the perimeter of Britain to raise funds for Movember. He’s now on the other (drier) side of the challenge and revisiting unreleased footage - he’ll be releasing the videos throughout December.

9. Reckon you’ve got the legs to outpace Jonas Abrahamsen?

10. Finally, Filippo Ganna has swapped the lycra for an all-white tracksuit - and a flaming torch. He picks up the Olympic torch from tennis player, Jasmine Paolini.

Mathieu van der Poel stormed to a second successive victory at the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday after dropping Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) on the Oude Kwaremont.

Pedersen fought valiantly in his attempts to close down the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, although the Dane faded as Van der Poel powered on in the grey drizzle of West Flanders and continued his fine early season form after winning Milan-San Remo.

Van der Poel took the win by more than a minute over Pedersen with Ganna securing third, a further minute back on the Dutchman.

Speaking at the finish, the former road world champion hailed the huge effort from his teammates after Alpecin had to dig deep in the early stages in order to keep their key man in the race. “I’m very very happy,” Van der Poel said. “We had quite a tough race for the team, I have to thank my whole team for the amazing job they did today. I was really motivated to finish it off.” An early crash caused chaos in the peloton with Alpecin one of several teams caught out as splits formed.

Van der Poel tracked a move on the Taaienberg from Pedersen with 80km to go, before they were joined by Ganna. Along with the two riders up the road - Aimé De Gendt and Casper Pedersen - they surged on, with little chance of the win coming from behind. The Oude Kwaremont then proved decisive.

“He’s just incredible,” Pedersen said at the finish, describing Van der Poel and his attack on the cobbled climb. “The gap kept extending. It’s impossible to come back from that. On the Kwaremont he made the difference and showed his class again. We wanted to open up the race on the Taaienberg, we talked to the DSes there and decided not to follow but to try it ourselves. It was nice to open up the race, with a smaller group. The shape is there. It was proper racing today, so I’m happy.”

Meanwhile Ganna admitted that his heavier build meant that he simply couldn’t follow when Van der Poel and Pedersen pushed on. “My weight is too high for this climb with these guys. I’m really happy with my performance in the last kilometres (though). I had a fire in the legs and then we were at the top and saw 30km to go, I thought ‘fuck’. It was a really hard race, but I’m happy, the shape is here. I’m not the best rider for the steep climbs.”

How it happened

An early crash sparked panic in the field as splits formed in the race as a result. Wout van Aert and Visma-Lease a Bike and Mathieu van der Poel and Alpecin-Deceuninck were caught out as the race splintered, with the opening 40 kilometres completed in just 45 minutes as Groupama FDJ and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe set an infernal pace at the head of the peloton.

Once the race hit the Kanarieberg the two groups were within touching distance of one another and eventually made contact as the climb progressed. Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike) launched an attack over the summit of the climb and took Groupama-FDJ’s Stefan Küng with him. Jorgenson’s move didn’t amount into anything with the real action still to come.

With 80 kilometres to go, the speed suddenly ramped up at the front of the peloton, with Lidl-Trek and Ineos Grenadiers driving the tempo into the Taaienberg as rain began to fall. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) used the increased aggression to launch an attack on the cobbles and Van der Poel was the first man able to follow. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) then bridged across, and the trio then joined the last men standing from an earlier move, Casper Pedersen (Soudal Quick-Step) and Aimé De Gendt (Cofidis), at the sharp end of proceedings.

A six-man chase group soon formed between the five riders up front and the remnants of the main field. Jorgenson was present for Visma alongside Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek), Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates), Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Küng.

On the Paterberg, Pedersen accelerated hard with the aim of cutting the lead five down; Ganna and Van der Poel were the only men able to keep up. The Oude Kwaremont soon followed, and it was Ganna that began the climb first. Van der Poel took over and caused a split as the cobbles began. The former world champion soon crested the summit and was out of sight, with Pedersen 17 seconds down on him and Ganna a further 13 seconds back.

As the rain continued to fall in West Flanders, Van der Poel tore over the Karnemelkbeekstraat and under the 30 kilometre to go banner with 25 seconds over Pedersen back down the road. The slick roads began to become an issue with the Dutchman nearly losing his back wheel on a wet corner.

Van der Poel, however, held on and won by more than a minute in Harelbeke, with Pedersen taking second and Ganna completing the podium.

Results

E3 Saxo Classic 2025 (208km)

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck, in 4:39:14
2. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek, +1:05
3. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers, +2:04
4. Casper Pedersen (Den) Soudal Quick-Step, +2:33
5. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Lidl-Trek
6. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ
7. Aimé De Gendt (Bel) Cofidis, all at same time
8. Tim Wellens (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG, +2:35
9. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease a Bike, +2:38
10. Mike Teunissen (Ned) XDS Astana, +2:43

Filippo Ganna pointed to the sky in both celebration and disbelief as he rode solo across the line on stage one of the Volta ao Algarve, the rest of the peloton dashing down the wrong side of the barriers on the finishing straight.

The race commissaires later cancelled the stage, declaring no winner, after the leading bunch followed the camera motorbikes along the deviation, off the course, but parallel to the finish line.

The incident happened in the final kilometre, and those who took the wrong exit – the majority of the first 50 riders – ended up being diverted around the finish gantry, and straight to the team buses.

Ganna was one of a handful who took the correct turning, seizing upon his opportunity to charge alone across the line.

Almost three hours after the incident, the Volta ao Algarve published a statement, in which the race director, Sérgio Sousa, explained the stage was cancelled because "the sporting truth did not prevail in the end".

"The College of Commissaires interpreted the regulations and, given what happened, decided to cancel the stage because they considered that sporting truth did not prevail in the end," he said.

"All the technical information was clear that the riders should go left at the last roundabout. The fact is that some of them took the right, in a lane parallel to the finish line. It was a wrong decision by the peloton but it’s clear that we didn’t do enough to avoid this outcome, which we very much regret.”

The final 2km of Wednesday's opening stage of the Volta ao Algarve offered two large roundabouts to navigate, the second of which led the peloton astray.

Despite late efforts from on-ground marshals to point the bunch in the right direction, those riding at the front instinctively followed the race vehicles off the course.

Ganna was originally asked in his post-race interview to explain what happened, but returned a confused expression. "Everyone took the wrong way, and I took the [correct] one," he said. "You need to know the rules, you need to know the parcours. It's the rules for the riders. In the past, I've taken the wrong way during a TT, and I lost the race."

Following the stage's cancellation, and the chalking off of Ganna's victory, the Italian's Ineos Grenadiers team posted on X: "Cycling is tough. Some days you win but most you lose.

"We’re thankful that today everyone finished safely, but let’s use this opportunity to continue to shine a light on making the best sport in the world a safer one."

Confusion reigned after the finish line in Lagos moments after the stage finished. Tudor Pro Cycling's Marco Haller questioned the lack of direction in the closing moments, saying it was "just poor".

"You could see that on the last kilometre, the deviation wasn’t blocked by the officials, and then obviously when the riders were coming, they followed the motorbikes, like they always do," Haller told Eurosport.

"For me, it’s pretty ridiculous, because we suffer 190km to put ourselves in the perfect position, and then it’s basically everything for nothing. It’s a joke. It’s something where there need to be consequences for the officials, for the organisers, because it cannot always be the riders who are blamed."

In a statement issued by Visma-Lease a Bike, sports director Arthur van Dongen called on the UCI to "wake up please".

"This was embarrassing," Van Dongen said. "Professional cycling is making a very bad impression with this situation. Rider safety must be the top priority. And that has been seriously lacking here.

"Fortunately, no serious accidents occurred, but this could have ended very badly. This is unacceptable."

The race will continue on Thursday with a summit finish to Alto da Foia. The sprinters are likely to be able to make amends on stage three, which brings a flat finish into Tavira.

Two-time world time trial champion Filippo Ganna knows he has young Brit Josh Tarling snapping at his heels ahead of the Olympics. So much so, that the Italian says his Ineos Grenadiers teammate motivates him to go faster against the clock. 

Tarling, who became European time trial champion at just 19 years old last year, is one of the scene's most promising young talents. The now 20-year-old will compete for Team GB at the Paris Olympics this July, where both he and Ganna will go as gold medal contenders in the time trial. 

Speaking to Cycling Weekly, the Italian said he is hoping for a "good fight" with his young teammate. 

"I think Josh is one of the best riders at the moment," Ganna said. "He's European champion, and has a lot of victories also in the TT. He's young, but really, really strong. I hope he can be a good fight for me. For sure, he's one of the motivations I have for training well, so I can beat him."

Tarling is yet to better Ganna in a time trial since turning pro at the start of 2023. The duo faced off twice last year, placing first and second at the Ethias-Tour de Wallonie, and second and third at the UCI World Championships, behind winner Remco Evenepoel. 

At this summer's Olympics, both the men and women will tackle the same flat 32.4km course, which heads east through the centre of Paris, and counts a number of sharp turns. 

On Thursday, GB coach Matt Brammeier posted a picture on X of Tarling and Anna Henderson under the Eiffel Tower, on a recon ride of the course. "57 days," Brammeier wrote, counting down to the race. "Starting to feel a bit real now."

Tarling has made no secret in recent months of his ambitions for the Games. "I'm going to Paris to win," he told The Guardian in April. "I'd like to do the road race as well, but it depends, because there's only four spots. I also want to do the Madison on the track. So I'd like to win the Madison and the TT."

Team GB's selection for the Olympics is not yet finalised, and is expected to be announced in the next month. Tarling's place on the track is not guaranteed, although he has featured in the team pursuit squad this year; he was part of the team that won gold at the Nations Cup round in Adelaide, Australia in February. 

The men's time trial will take place on 27 July, starting and finishing at Invalides in the centre of Paris. 

Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) tightened his grip on the pink jersey at the Giro d'Italia on Friday, winning stage seven's time trial and taking time on all of his rivals.

The Slovenian started the day with a 46-second buffer at the top of the general classification, and now leads the race by two minutes and 36 seconds to Dani Martínez (Bora-Hansgrohe) in second. 

Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), tenth on the day, slipped to third in the GC. "It is what it is," the Brit said afterwards. "It's just one of those days."

For Pogačar, the race marked his first on his TT bike since last August's World Championships. "It was a lot of preparation for this," he said, "a lot of ups and downs since the time trial last year. I’m super-happy that today I felt good.

"I started a bit with an easier pace. I had to get used to the TT bike, and then I paced myself to the climb and did the climb full gas."

Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) sat in the hot seat for most of the afternoon, having clocked 52 minutes and one second over the 40.6km course between Foligno and Perugia. On the final climb, though, Pogačar took back over a minute on the Italian, bettering him by 17 seconds over the line.

How it happened

Stage seven's time trial course brought the longest at the Giro d’Italia in nine years. At 40.6km, the route was split into two distinct parts – an initial 32km flat section, before an uphill drag to the line, with ramps at 16%. 

Double world time trial champion Ganna set out early in the day, and despite clipping a spectator’s arm on a corner, clocked the fastest time over the two intermediate checks, travelling at over 52.5km/h.  

At the foot of climb, the Italian looked in supreme form. He tagged Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling), the rider who started five minutes before him, and went on to catch Luka Mezgec (Jayco AlUla), who started nine minutes ahead, to begin a long spell in the hot seat. 

Strong times followed for Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers), who were the first to get within a minute of Ganna's benchmark. The Italian's team-mate, Thymen Arensman, then followed suit, setting up a provisional Ineos Grenadiers 1-2-3. 

The tension, in the mean time, built around how Thomas and Pogačar would fare. As the afternoon drew on, the winds picked up, leaving the toughest conditions for the GC contenders. The pink-jersey-wearer, characteristically, relished the challenge. 

The stage win looked like it would elude Pogačar, initially. On the flat, his times were slower than Ganna had gone, but, crucially, he was faster than Thomas, his nearest rival in the overall standings. An eight-second advantage at the first time check turned into 40 seconds at the second, and his hold on the pink jersey turned vice-like.

On the final climb, the UAE Team Emirates rider then turned the screw. "Piano," slow down, Ganna said, as he watched on a small screen. Pogačar, of course, would not. He ended up pipping the Italian by 17 seconds, and Thomas by two minutes exactly.  

The Slovenian now takes a comfortable lead into Saturday's ninth stage, a summit finish on the Prati di Tivo. 

Results

Giro d'Italia 2024, stage seven: Foligno > Perugia (40.6km, ITT)

1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 51-44
2. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers, +17s
3. Magnus Sheffield (USA) Ineos Grenadiers, +49s
4. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers, +1-00
5. Max Schachmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe, +1-05
6. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +1-21
7. Luke Plapp (Aus) Jayco AlUla, +1-45
8. Dani Martínez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +1-49
9. Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates, +1-56
10. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, +2-00 

General classification after stage seven

1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 24:12:36
2. Daniel Felipe Martínez (Col) Bora-Hansgrohe, +2-36
3. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, +2-46
4. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, +3-33
5. Luke Plapp (Aus) Jayco AlUla, +3-42
6. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan, +3-49
7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel) Visma-Lease a Bike, +3-50
8. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious, +4-11
9. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco AlUla, +4-41
10. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan, +4-44

Tom Pidcock has said that the possibility of attacks before the Poggio, Milan-San Remo’s decisive climb, should not be ruled out on Saturday. 

The Poggio often proves to be pivotal in the first Monument of the season but the current racing environment could give way to a select group, or solo winner, going clear beforehand. 

Mathieu van der Poel launched his race winning attack at the Poggio’s summit last year before soloing to the line. Matej Mohorič, the winner two years ago, won the race after a daredevil descent from the climb using a now infamous dropper seatpost. 

Tadej Pogačar recently won Strade Bianche for a second time after a long range, 81 kilometre, solo attack and Pidcock says he will be alert to other riders launching attacks from as far out as the Cipressa on Saturday. 

"I think I’ve been building well, I haven’t had any setbacks yet this year so I can take confidence from that," Pidcock said ahead of the race. "San Remo is simple really. It’s the people who are fastest up the Poggio and then who can descend it well. 

"I think you need a team around you that can get you in there in a good position. Although attacks on the Cipressa won’t surprise me this year to be honest."

Pidcock has started the Classics season in solid form, taking eighth at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and fourth at Strade Bianche. The British rider heads into Milan-San Remo after finishing ninth on GC at Tirreno-Adriatico. 

He was forced to miss San Remo last year due to concussion picked up in a crash in Tirreno-Adriatico. His best ever finish at the Italian Monument is fifteenth. 

"I would say I’ve only really raced Milan-San Remo once, that was in my first year, in my second year I was sick," he said. "So it’s actually a race that I’ve not ridden so much but it’s one that I’ve always watched. 

"I love this race, I’ve been in the south of France for one winter so I’ve ridden these roads a little bit as well even though that was a little bit of a while ago now."

Meanwhile, Filippo Ganna will be Ineos Grenadiers’ joint leader on Saturday. The Italian finished second behind Van der Poel last time out and is the second of two cards that the British team has to play. 

Alongside Ganna and Pidcock, Ben Swift, Luke Rowe, Michal Kwiatkowski, and Jhonatan Narváez make up the rest of the Ineos squad. 

Kim Heiduk was initially part of the line up announced by the team but a recent crash at Nokere Koerse in Belgium has ruled the German out with a broken collarbone and elbow. 

Pidcock said that he had faith in the team around him for Saturday so that he can focus on his main task, being part of the select group that eventually will contest the win in the streets of San Remo. 

"The team around me give me a lot of confidence actually," he said. "I feel having these guys behind me, they know what they’re doing and I can rely on them to get me in the position that I need to be in to be in with a chance of winning."

We can only imagine that Italian time trial powerhouse Filippo Ganna was born bang on time, because whenever there's a clock involved, he excels.

A north Italian homeboy who stands out for his lofty stature and big-for-a-cyclist build, he has won titles and set records on the track and on the roads, over all manner of distances, including setting a new World Hour Record in October 2022.

Popular and with a ready smile, he has spent most of his pro career so far with Team Sky and Ineos Grenadiers, now Netcompany-Ineos, where he is contracted until the end of 2027.

1. His father is a former Olympian who participated in the canoe events in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

2. His first club was Pedale Ossolano near his home town of Verbania. He won the Italian Novices time trial championship as a youth with them as a youth.

3. Ganna won his first race after joining Team Sky in 2019, the time trial on stage one of the Tour de Provence.

4. If you can see a time trial theme developing here, there's a good reason for that. Ganna is one of the best riders in the discipline in the modern peloton. In 2020 and 2021, he won five out five time trial stages in the Giro d'Italia. He missed the race last year and this year defaulted on that 100% record, coming second to Remco Evenepoel in the TT opener before later quitting with covid.

5 One of his greatest career achievements is breaking the World Hour Record with 56.792km – a frankly incredible distance that was faster even than Chris Boardman's 1996 'superman' effort and is likely to go unbeaten for some time.

6. The bike Ganna used to break the World Hour Record in October 2022 was 3D printed and worth a cool €33,000.

7. His fiancee Carlotta Morino has the same first name as his sister. They met, of course, at a bike race which her father was organising. He calls his sister Lotti, avoiding any mix-ups.

8. He and his sister cemented their bond by tattooing each other with anchors as an 18th birthday present. Hers is on her back, Ganna's on his arm.

9. Winning Paris-Roubaix is a dream of his – he has already won the U23 version, in 2016. He has ridden elite version four times now, recording his best finish (6th) in 2023.

10. When he became time trial world champion in 2020, Ganna became the first Italian to win the title, which was inaugurated in 1994. He followed it up with a second win in 2021. Germany is the title's winningest nation, chiefly thanks to Tony Martin and Jan Ullrich.

11. He would have had an extra incentive to take that first time trial world title, as it was held in Imola, northern Italy, not so far from where he grew up.

12. Ganna has broken the 4,000 individual pursuit world record four times.

13. He was only the second rider to break four-minutes for the individual pursuit; the first being Ashton Lambie of the USA.

14. He's a keen gamer – during the Tokyo Olympics he took on the other Italian team members at Fortnite.

15. At the 2022 Tirreno-Adriatico Ganna raised eyebrows in the opening stage time trial due to the huge number of bikes stacked on the roof of his following car. Rival Remco Evenepoel and his Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl team employed the same tactic, which can give an aero advantage. This led to a rule change later in the season lengthening the distance team cars must travel behind their rider in a time trial from 10 to 15 metres.

16. Ganna is a dab hand in the kitchen, with tagliolini with truffles being a speciality. He's great on the barbecue too.

17. As well as being a talented bike rider he's a clever so-and-so, and has a degree in building engineering and architecture from the Politecnico di Milano.

18. He describes his family as his refuge. "I recharge in their company," he said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport in 2019.

19. He loves building Lego, with cars a popular choice but Star Wars stuff the favourite. As a present, his sister gave him a Lego figure wearing a world champion's jersey.

20. Ganna has been Italian time trial champion five times. He has won it every year for the past four seasons, aside from 2021 when it was won by Matteo Sobrero.

21. Sobrero and Ganna have been mates for years, which is just as well, because the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider is engaged to Ganna's sister.

The UCI has ratified a new rule for time trials which means that cars will now have to follow riders at 15 metres rather than 10, as was the case before.

The change, as reported by Het Nieuwsblad on Tuesday, comes after a series of high profile riders were seen closely followed by team cars stacked with bikes during time trials in the 2022 season.

The cars had more bikes on it than would ever be necessary during an individual time trial, such as in the photo above from stage 20 of this year's Tour de France, where Jonas Vingegaard is being shadowed by a Jumbo-Visma team car with six bikes on it. The fact that most of them were road bikes show how superfluous they are.

The tactic is supposed to give an aero advantage to the rider in front of the car, it was also seen employed by Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers throughout the season, especially at Tirreno-Adriatico, where Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl's Remco Evenepoel was similarly assisted.

As a result, the UCI has ruled that cars must now follow riders at 15 metres rather than 10 as before, although it is not known how commissaires will measure this in race.

Earlier this year, Cyclingnews spoke to an aero expert, Richard Kelso, an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide, who explained that the larger area of a team car stacked with bikes pushes more air in front of it, reducing the speed of the airflow around the rider. This, in turn, reduces the drag and allows for a performance boost. 

"It is only small but it's enough [to make a difference]," Kelson said.

The new distance of 15 metres would effectively stop this advantage from happening.

A study conducted by Bert Blocken and the Eindhoven University of Technology, as reported by Cycling Tips in October, showed that gains from close following cars could be significant, with an aero advantage of 3.7%, 1.4%, and 0.2% for cars following at 3, 5 and 10 m. Over a 50 km time trial, the study says these three scenarios could save the rider as much as 62.4 s, 24.1 s and 3.9 s against a scenario with no car. 

The UCI's new rules also introduced new regulations for time trial bike fits, with the required distance between the saddle tip and end of bar extensions, drop to the arm pads and saddle setback all adjusted.

It's a change that Cycling Weekly reported on in October and could help tall riders looking to break Filippo Ganna's Hour Record.

At the UCI Congress in Monaco, plans for pinless bib numbers were also discussed.

Filippo Ganna is a serial world record collector. The Italian currently holds three; the team pursuit, the Hour Record and his latest exploit, the individual pursuit, which he claimed in show-stopping style at last week’s Track World Championships. 

Ganna’s IP time of 3-59.636 made him just the second person in history to go under four minutes, bettering the benchmark set by American Ashton Lambie last year by three tenths of a second. 

Though some suspect Ganna has now shelved his records for many years, a new UCI rule, due to be introduced next year, could see them topple a lot sooner. 

As of 1 January 2023, a technical specification will allow taller riders extra reach on their handlebar extensions. 

The new rule, filed under subsection 1.3.023 of the UCI Regulations, separates riders into three height categories, with each one allowed a different distance between the middle of their forearm support and the end of their handlebar extensions. 

For riders under 180cm, the maximum distance will be 100mm. Those between 180cm and 190cm will be allowed 120mm, while riders over 190cm will be permitted a reach of up to 140mm.

Until now, the distance has been regulated at 100mm across all height categories, with riders over 190cm able to request special dispensation to move forward either the peak of their saddle or handlebar extensions. 

Speaking to Cycling Weekly, GB track endurance coach Ben Greenwood said the taller riders will "gain most" from the rule change.

“You can potentially get your head a bit more behind your hands, which is more aerodynamic,” Greenwood explained. “That will change a few riders’ positions.”

One rider who is likely to benefit from the new regulations will be Ganna himself, who measures 192cm and already favours an aggressive, praying mantis-like position.  

According to aerodynamics consultant Xavier Disley, Ganna will be able to achieve “a much steeper angle” with his arms under the new rule. 

Referring specifically to the Hour Record, Disley said: “Even if he saves nothing off his CdA, the difference between [his distance of 56.792km] and 57km is about four and a half watts. And four and a half watts at that speed is just the tiniest of changes.

“I would suspect if he goes again [after the rule change], he’ll go faster,” Disley added. 

The same applies to both the team and individual pursuits, two events where substantial gains can be found in minor positional changes. 

Potential Hour Record contenders on the UCI's 190cm or taller list include Stefan Küng, Jonathan Milan and Wout van Aert, while Remco Evenepoel is classed below 180cm. 

Still, if the changes end up benefiting Ganna, don't be surprised to see the Italian send his records even further into untouchable territory.

Hour Record holder Filippo Ganna became only the second person in history to go under four minutes in the individual pursuit, breaking the world record by three tenths of a second with a 3-59.636 at the Track World Championships. 

“I think today we’ve written a part of history,” Ganna told Cycling Weekly after the race. “It’s an amazing moment for us all.”

On Thursday, the Italian placed second in the team pursuit, a discipline in which he and his teammates broke the world record at the Olympics last year. 

“Today, at nine o’clock, I woke up. At 10 o’clock, I didn’t want to do the individual pursuit. At quarter past, everyone from the national team came in my room and tried to help me to take the decision.

“From tonight, I’m going to just celebrate,” Ganna added. “Maybe beers, maybe gin and tonics, it depends. Maybe champagne, we’re in France.”

The 26-year-old beat his compatriot Jonathan Milan by four seconds in the event’s all-Italian final.

In the bronze medal race, Great Britain’s Dan Bigham couldn’t overcome Ivo Oliveira (Portugal) to claim a spot on the podium. The team pursuit world champion set a new British record of 4-05.181 in qualifying, but struggled in the play-off, going five seconds slower than his previous effort.

“I just didn’t have it, simple as that,” Bigham said. 

“You scrape the barrel and you ride it with all you’ve got,” the Brit added. “I definitely gave it a good nudge.”

American Omnium glory

Jennifer Valente (USA) sailed to victory in the women’s omnium, winning three out of the four events and adding an individual world title to the four she already had in the team pursuit. 

“This definitely was a long time coming,” the American told Cycling Weekly after the race. “I achieved the Olympic dream before this one, but this really had been on the forefront of my mind for quite a long time."

The Olympic omnium champion won the scratch, elimination and points races to triumph with 118 points across the event. 

“It’s an overall," the 27-year-old explained. "People have good races and bad races, and you just have to be consistent. The most consistent rider is the one that wins.

“There’s no cruising. [I was against] very tough competition, a lot of up-and-coming young riders, and a lot of people that are ready to dig deep and go hard to put their name on the board.”

Dutch 21-year-old Maike van der Duin, silver medalist in Wednesday’s scratch race, came second with 109 points, winning the tempo race.

Gold at last for France

France's Mathilde Gros had the home crowds roaring when she secured her country's first rainbow jersey at this year's championships in the women's sprint. 

The 23-year-old knocked out previous titleholder Emma Hinze in the semifinals, before going on to win 2-0 against the German's compatriot, six-time gold medalist Lea Sophie Friedrich, in the final. 

In the men's kilometre time trial, Jeffrey Hoogland (Netherlands) stopped the clock at 58.106 to retain his rainbow bands ahead of European champion Melvin Landerneau (France).

The Dutch also secured the gold medal in the 40km men’s points race, with Yoeri Havik, the only rider to gain three laps on the field, clinching a career first world title. Great Britain’s Will Perrett narrowly missed out on the medals, placing fifth on his World Championships debut.

“I’m a bit gutted, to be honest,” Perrett said after the race. “I wish I could redo it.

“I’m proud of how I rode but there’s more to come, more for the future.” 

Having just set the furthest ever distance officially recorded for the Hour Record on Saturday, a massive 56.792km, Filippo Ganna is in no rush to try and go even further.

The Italian Ineos Grenadier rider not only smashed his colleague Dan Bigham's record distance by 1.244km but managed to better the 56.375km mark set by Chris Boardman in 1996, the Human Best Effort performance.

It seems plausible that the record is now out of reach for a generation, such is the distance that the powerhouse rider has set.

Speaking to the media following his successful attempt, the result of months of work and research, the 26-year-old said: "I think I'll never do [it] again."

“If I do it in the future [it will be] before going to retire like Wiggins, but I don't think before.”

Bradley Wiggins set a distance of 54.526 km in 2015, just after he had left Team Sky and was essentially winding down his road career. Considering Ganna is just 26, it might be a while before he has another tilt at the Hour Record, if he does at all.

The Italian said that his attempt had begun as planned, naturally, before ramping up in the closing minutes.

“In the start, nothing,” he said when asked what he was thinking during his laps of the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland. “Just the normal protocol - to take the position and follow the line.”

However, as his speed was clearly up, and he was able to think about beating Boardman's record, he started to consider breaking 57km. “After 35 minutes, I say okay maybe I can do the 57k," he said. "But then I start suffering a lot for the position for my balls.”

It was in the closing ten minutes that he was forced to re-evaluate and aim for breaking the record rather than getting to the magical 57km. He said he was aiming to “not lose time, because the job is just to arrive, and we are doing an amazing job, all together.”

Ganna did not support the theory that other riders, like a Remco Evenepoel, could beat the record, especially without the support of Ineos. He rode a special 3D-printed Pinarello Bolide and wore a custom skinsuit worth thousands of pounds.

“If they do I’m happy… but I think I have the best team for trying to do this,” Ganna said. “Maybe if they joined the team they can try.

"I think Ineos followed well what I wanted to do,” he added. “I think this result is not just because of my legs or my performance, but is more one effort of Team Ineos.”

Boardman, the man who set the previous benchmark for best overall effort, unrestricted, tweeted: "Congratulations @gannafilippo haven’t watched one in quarter of a century, glad I tuned in, a beautiful thing to witness."

Bigham, the previous Hour Record holder, said: “A massive kudos to Filippo for that historic ride. I know the commitment, determination and work that’s needed to put in a performance like that. It’s fantastic that this ambitious project came together on the night. Having my record beaten by Filippo was always part of the plan and it’s great to have such a deserving teammate as the new record holder.”

Filippo Ganna has broken the UCI World Hour Record with a distance of 56.792km at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland. 

The Italian, an Olympic gold medallist in the team pursuit, went 1,244m further than his aerodynamicist Dan Bigham, who set the previous record of 55.548km back in August. 

With such a dominant ride, the two-time world time trial champion also surpassed a 26-year-old ‘best human effort’ held by Chris Boardman. The Brit’s distance of 56.375km, recorded in 1996, was later chalked off by the UCI for his use of a banned ‘superman’ position, but stood as a benchmark of human ability.

Speaking after his successful attempt, Ganna said: "This result is amazing and now we think to the recovery and maybe try to celebrate all together.

"I think next time maybe I try in another part of [the] season, maybe with more fresh legs and we can go more high again."

Though he had predicted a slow start, the Italian's first lap saw him go immediately two seconds up on Bigham. He didn’t let the adrenaline get the better of him, though. Easing into his effort, Ganna stuck to his plan of a negative split and soon fell below the target time. By lap 32, he was riding at a three-second deficit on his 3D-printed Pinarello Bolide.

Ganna then began clawing back the lost time and hit record pace with just 18.75km covered. By that point, the sails were well and truly open, and the Ineos Grenadiers rider was rifling around the track, edging closer to Boardman’s best human effort. 

His 143rd lap was ridden at an average speed of 58.03km/h, exceeding the fastest lap ever clocked in an Hour Record attempt. The Italian then bettered it, and bettered it again. 

With over a minute to go, the record belonged to Ganna. He powered on to complete 227 laps of the velodrome, five more than Bigham managed two months ago. 

As he pedalled his bike to a halt, a giant grin took over the Italian's face. Ganna finished his evening by dancing along to the music blasting into the track centre, before being doused in champagne by his support team.

Double time trial world champion Filippo Ganna said he will have to do “the biggest effort of my life” if he is to break the UCI World Hour Record on Saturday evening. 

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the event, the 26-year-old said he is hoping to clock between 16 and 15.8-second laps on the velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland.

The latter would see him achieve a distance of around 57km, almost 1,500m further than the current benchmark set by his aerodynamicist Dan Bigham. 

“We tried the pacing before the Worlds with a more conservative pace,” the Italian said. “We’ll see [if] I can do a little bit more hard, more strong than they think.”

On Thursday, Belgian publication Het Nieuwsblad reported that Ganna had done a 35-minute trial run in Montichiari, in which he averaged over 56km/h. 

When asked about the trial, Ganna said: “Tomorrow is 60 minutes, it changes a little bit. Maybe at 35 minutes tomorrow I’ll say it’s really easy, at 36 I want to die. We will see tomorrow.”

“Realistic, [my hope] is to do one metre more than Dan,” the Italian joked. “The dream is to do the record of the record.” 

"Tomorrow I need to do the biggest effort of my life and we will see if [my condition] is fine or not."

Ganna will take to the track centre on a custom, 3D-printed Pinarello Bolide, complete with the colours of his national flag. “It’s more heavy than a normal bike, but it’s faster,” Ganna said. “Maybe Pinarello has put inside a lot of love and [that’s why] it’s heavy.

“The first three or four laps, you don’t feel super fast. But after five minutes she flies on the track,” he added. 

Ganna also gave details of his set-up, revealing the gear ratio he’s likely to run on the day. “Today and Monday I tried with a 65 [tooth chainring] and I have the idea to use the 66,” he said, “but I prefer to maybe stay a little bit more with the high cadence.

“In the track, normally we stay around 170, 120rpm. Tomorrow it’s more close to a road race, around 96rpm.”

The Italian will run a 14T cog at the rear. 

In order to claim the record, Ganna will have to go further than the 55.548km set by Bigham on the same velodrome in August. Even if he does do it, he explained, it still won’t trump the gold medal he won in the team pursuit in the Olympics last year. 

“The Olympics for me is I think the most important event I do,” he said. “One team effort with the guys and winning together is more important than winning alone. It’s like life. All together we can do the difference.” 

Ganna's UCI World Hour Record attempt will begin at 19:00 BST (20:00 CET) on 8 October. 

This weekend, former world time trial champion Filippo Ganna will take a hotly anticipated stab at the UCI World Hour Record. 

The current distance the Italian will have to beat is 55.548km, set by his Ineos Grenadiers colleague, Dan Bigham, at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland, this August. 

On Saturday, Ganna will take to the same track centre to see if his physical limits can take him further. The 26-year-old will race a custom, 3D-printed bike in his effort, which he expects to constitute "an hour of pure suffering". 

Ganna will begin his Hour Record attempt at 19:00 BST (20:00 CET) on Saturday 8 October. You can find out how to watch the event wherever you are with our handy guide and with ExpressVPN.

It is a busy weekend of racing, with Ganna's tilt at the Hour Record taking place alongside Il Lombardia, the Gravel World Championships and Paris-Tours. All of the action across those events will be shown on GCN+ worldwide. 

Watch Filippo Ganna's Hour Record attempt worldwide

Ganna's Hour Record attempt will be broadcast live around the world, with GCN+, Discovery+ and Eurosport's online platform all showing the action. 

Coverage of the event will begin at 18:45 BST (19:45 CET / 10:45 PT / 13:45 ET).

To gain access to Discovery+ and Eurosport coverage, you can subscribe for £59.99 a year, or £6.99 per month. Alternatively, access to GCN+ costs £39.99 a year, or £6.99 per month.

If you’re not in the country for the Hour Record attempt, no problem – you can just download and install a VPN and use a location inside the United Kingdom to watch the broadcast live as if you were back home. 

Setting up a VPN is simple – just download, install, open the app and select your location. 

Try out Express VPN for its speed, security and simplicity to use. It is also compatible with a range of devices and streaming services (e.g. Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Xbox, PS4, etc.), giving you the option to watch wherever you want.

There are other great options out there, of course, but Express VPN gives you the added benefit of a 30-day money back guarantee and three months free with a yearly plan.

Filippo Ganna is set to target the Hour Record next month, it was announced by his Ineos Grenadiers team on Friday morning.

The Italian two-time time trial world champion will attempt to break the 55.548km distance set by Dan Bigham at the Tissot Velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland, on 8 October, at 8pm local time.

The Hour Record has been a long-rumoured goal for the Italian, who has dominated time trials in recent years, winning 20 events on the road in his career so far. He has also won multiple medals on the track, and holds the record for both the individual and team pursuits.

In the statement released on Friday, Ganna said that the attempt is an "important step" in his career.

 “I’m looking forward to the challenge, even though it’s going to be an hour of pure suffering," the 26-year-old said. "It will be interesting to see how my body holds up, and just how far I can go - it’s a chance to really test your physical and mental limits. To undertake a prestigious event like this is an important step in my career.”

The record was broken in August by Bigham, who works as a performance engineer for Ineos Grenadiers at the same velodrome. It was an endeavour that was seemingly a test ahead of Ganna's go at the record, although he did beat the previous record, set by Victor Campenaerts, by almost 500m.

At the time Bigham described his record-breaking ride as "bit mind blowing" and "pretty epic".

Ganna spoke of his excitement of using the new equipment developed specially for the Hour Record attempts.

"I have been training on the new Pinarello bike and it’s super-fast – I love it," he said. It’s another step on from the already high level we have with our equipment. 

"The team puts so much energy and effort into these projects, and our partners, from Pinarello and the new prototype bike, to a fully customised skinsuit made by Bioracer - they’ve done their part so now it’s my turn. I’m going to feel really good stepping into that velodrome. Mentally that’ll already give me some extra metres.”

Rod Ellingworth, Ineos' deputy team principal, said that nothing has been left to chance in the run up to Ganna's bid at the Hour Record.

“We have been building towards this exciting event during the last year," he said. "There have been so many layers of thought gone into the planning of this event so we can ensure Filippo arrives at the start line in Switzerland with the best equipment for the greatest chance of success. 

"When it comes to taking on events like this we leave nothing to chance - constantly refining what and how we do things is part of the genetic makeup of the Ineos Grenadiers team. It’s inspiring to work alongside some of the best brains in the business. It’s that kind of care and consideration that shows our athletes how much we want them to do well.” 

The opening stage of this year’s Tour de France is a 13.2 kilometre individual time trial around Copenhagen, Denmark. Overall favourites for the yellow jersey, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), will be looking to get their race off to a flying start in the general classification.

Tadej Pogačar won last year's stage five time trial to Laval and Wout Van Aert took victory in the penultimate day time trial into Saint-Émilion. 

Two of the favourites for the day are Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) and Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) despite the Belgian suffering a recent knee injury.  Ganna will pull on a ‘supersonic’ skin suit in his bid for an opening day glory and is odds-on favourite for the stage. 

Meanwhile Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has played down his chances of winning the time trial. 

TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE ONE MAIN CONTENDERS AND OVERALL FAVOURITES START TIMES (ALL DENMARK LOCAL TIME)

16:07:00 144 *BISSEGGER Stefan (Swi) EF Education-Easypost
16:11:00 101 VAN DER POEL Mathieu (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck
16:20:00 11 ROGLIČ Primož (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
16:34:00 94 KÜNG Stefan (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
16:35:00 81 HAIG Jack (Aus) Bahrain Victorious
16:39:00 41 VLASOV Aleksandr Bora-Hansgrohe
16:40:00 31 O'CONNOR Ben (Aus) AG2R Citroën
16:41:00 21 THOMAS Geraint (Wal) Ineos Grenadiers
16:42:00 18 VINGEGAARD Jonas (Den) Jumbo-Visma
16:56:00 97 PINOT Thibaut (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
16:57:00 82 CARUSO Damiano (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
17:03:00 24 GANNA Filippo (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
17:04:00 16 VAN AERT Wout (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
17:05:00 1 POGACAR Tadej (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
17:22:00 52 ASGREEN Kasper (Den) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
17:25:00 28 YATES Adam (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers

ALL START TIMES FOR THE TOUR DE FRANCE 2022 STAGE ONE TIME TRIAL (ALL DENMARK LOCAL TIME) 

16:00:00 214 LECROQ Jérémy (Fra) B & B Hotels - KTM
16:01:00 202 BAUER Jack (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
16:02:00 192 BOIVIN Guillaume (Can) Israel-Premier Tech
16:03:00 182 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald (Nor) TotalEnergies
16:04:00 175 MOLLEMA Bauke (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
16:05:00 168 WELLENS Tim (Bel) Lotto Soudal
16:06:00 158 SWIFT Connor (Eng) Arkea-Samsic
16:07:00 144 *BISSEGGER Stefan (Swi) EF Education-Easypost
16:08:00 138 ZEITS Andrey (Kaz) Astana-Qazaqstan Team
16:09:00 122 BYSTRØM Sven Erik (Nor) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
16:10:00 115 HAMILTON Christopher (Aus) Team DSM
16:11:00 101 VAN DER POEL Mathieu (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck
16:12:00 91 GAUDU David (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
16:13:00 87 TRATNIK Jan (Slo) Bahrain Victorious
16:14:00 77 THOMAS Benjamin (Fra) Cofidis
16:15:00 61 MAS Enric (Spa) Movistar
16:16:00 57 MØRKØV Michael (Den) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
16:17:00 42 GROSSSCHARTNER Felix (Aus) Bora Hansgrohe
16:18:00 36 JUNGELS Bob (Lux) AG2R Citroën
16:19:00 22 MARTINEZ Daniel (Col) Ineos Grenadiers
16:20:00 11 ROGLIČ Primož (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
16:21:00 3 *BJERG Mikkel (Den) UAE Team Emirates
16:22:00 213 GOUGEARD Alexis (Fra) B & B Hotels - KTM
16:23:00 203 DURBRIDGE Luke (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
16:24:00 195 NIV Guy (ISR) Israel-Premier Tech
16:25:00 183 BODNAR Maciej (Pol) TotalEnergies
16:26:00 171 PEDERSEN Mads (Den) Trek-Segafredo
16:27:00 161 EWAN Caleb (Aus) Lotto Soudal
16:28:00 151 QUINTANA Nairo (Col) Arkea Samsic
16:29:00 147 POWLESS Neilson (USA) EF Education-Easypost
16:30:00 135 GRUZDEV Dmitriy (Kaz) Astana-Kazaqstan
16:31:00 124 MEINTJES Louis (RZA) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
16:32:00 111 BARDET Romain (Fra) Team DSM
16:33:00 105 *PHILIPSEN Jasper (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
16:34:00 94 KÜNG Stefan (Swi) Groupama-FDJ
16:35:00 81 HAIG Jack (Aus) Bahrain Victorious
16:36:00 71 MARTIN Guillaume (Fra) Cofidis
16:37:00 64 *JORGENSON Matteo (Usa) Movistar
16:38:00 51 JAKOBSEN Fabio (Ned) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
16:39:00 41 VLASOV Aleksandr Bora-Hansgrohe
16:40:00 31 O'CONNOR Ben (Aus) AG2R Citroën
16:41:00 21 THOMAS Geraint (Wal) Ineos Grenadiers
16:42:00 18 VINGEGAARD Jonas (Den) Jumbo-Visma
16:43:00 4 LAENGEN Vegard Stake (Nor) UAE Team Emirates
16:44:00 217 ROLLAND Pierre (Fra) B & B Hotels-KTM
16:45:00 201 MATTHEWS Michael (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
16:46:00 197 NEILANDS Krists Lat) Israel-Premier Tech
16:47:00 185 LATOUR Pierre (Fra) TotalEnergies
16:48:00 178 STUYVEN Jasper (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
16:49:00 162 FRISON Frederik (Bel) Lotto Soudal
16:50:00 152 BARGUIL Warren (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
16:51:00 142 ALMEIDA GUERREIRO Ruben Antonio (Por) EF Education-Easypost
16:52:00 132 RIABUSHENKO Aleksandr Astana-Qazaqstan
16:53:00 121 KRISTOFF Alexander (Nor) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
16:54:00 116 *LEKNESSUND Andreas (Nor) Team DSM
16:55:00 108 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume (Bel) Alpecin Deceunick
16:56:00 97 PINOT Thibaut (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
16:57:00 82 CARUSO Damiano (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
16:58:00 78 WALSCHEID Max (Ger) Cofidis
16:59:00 66 OLIVEIRA Nelson (Por) Movistar
17:00:00 54 CATTANEO Mattia (Ita) Quick-Step Aplha Vinyl
17:01:00 47 SCHACHMANN Maximilian (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
17:02:00 38 PARET PEINTRE Aurélien (Fra) AG2R Citroën
17:03:00 24 GANNA Filippo (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
17:04:00 16 VAN AERT Wout (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
17:05:00 1 *POGACAR Tadej (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
17:06:00 215 LEMOINE Cyril (Fra) B & B Hotels-KTM
17:07:00 208 SCHULTZ Nicholas (Aus) BikeExchange-Jayco
17:08:00 193 CLARKE Simon (Aus) Israel-Premier Tech
17:09:00 181 SAGAN Peter (Slov) TotalEnergies
17:10:00 174 KIRSCH Alex (Lux) Trek-Segafredo
17:11:00 163 GILBERT Philippe (Bel) Lotto Soudal
17:12:00 156 *LOUVEL Matis (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
17:13:00 146 NIELSEN Magnus Cort (Den) EF Education-Easypost
17:14:00 137 VELASCO Simone (Ita) Astana-Qazaqstan
17:15:00 126 PETIT Adrien (Fra) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
17:16:00 117 TUSVELD Martijn (Ned) Team DSM
17:17:00 104 KRIEGER Alexander (Ger) Alpecin Deceunick
17:18:00 93 *GENIETS Kévin (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
17:19:00 88 *WRIGHT Fred (Gbr) Bahrain Victorious
17:20:00 74 IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI Ion (Spa) Cofidis
17:21:00 65 MÜHLBERGER Gregor (Aus) Movistar
17:22:00 52 ASGREEN Kasper (Den) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
17:23:00 44 KÄMNA Lennard (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
17:24:00 32 BOUCHARD Geoffrey (Fra) AG2R Citroën
17:25:00 28 YATES Adam (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers
17:26:00 15 LAPORTE Christophe (Fra) Jumbo-Visma
17:27:00 6 *MCNULTY Brandon (Usa) Team UAE Emirates
17:28:00 216 *MOZZATO Luca (Ita) B & B Hotels-KTM
17:29:00 204 GROENEWEGEN Dylan (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
17:30:00 198 WOODS Michael (Can) Israel-Premier Tech
17:31:00 184 *BURGAUDEAU Mathieu (Fra) TotalEnergies
17:32:00 176 *SIMMONS Quinn (Usa) Trek-Segafredo
17:33:00 167 *VERMEERSCH Florian (Bel) Lotto Soudal
17:34:00 153 BOUET Maxime (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
17:35:00 141 URAN Rigoberto (Col) EF Education-Easypost
17:36:00 133 DOMBROWSKI Joseph Lloyd (Usa) Astana-Qazaqstan
17:37:00 125 PASQUALON Andrea (Ita) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
17:38:00 118 *VERMAERKE Kevin (Usa) Team DSM)
17:39:00 106 PLANCKAERT Edward (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
17:40:00 92 DUCHESNE Antoine (Can) Groupama-FDJ
17:41:00 84 MOHORIC Matej (Slo) Bahrain Victorious
17:42:00 76 PEREZ Anthony (Fra) Cofidis
17:43:00 68 VERONA Carlos (Spa) Movistar)
17:44:00 56 LAMPAERT Yves (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
17:45:00 45 KONRAD Patrick (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
17:46:00 34 COSNEFROY Benoit (Fra) AG2R Citroën
17:47:00 27 VAN BAARLE Dylan (Ned) Ineos Grenadiers
17:48:00 13 KRUIJSWIJK Steven (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
17:49:00 5 MAJKA Rafal (Pol) UAE Team Emirates
17:50:00 212 BARTHE Cyril (Fra) B & B Hotels - KTM)
17:51:00 207 MEZGEC Luka (Slo) BikeExchange-Jayco
17:52:00 196 HOULE Hugo (Can) Israel-Premier Tech
17:53:00 188 VUILLERMOZ Alexis (Fra) TotalEnergies
17:54:00 173 GALLOPIN Tony (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
17:55:00 164 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt (rsa) Lotto Soudal
17:56:00 154 CAPIOT Amaury (Bel) Arkea-Samsic
17:57:00 148 *RUTSCH Jonas (Ger) EF Education-Easypost
17:58:00 136 MOSCON Gianni (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan
17:59:00 127 VAN DER HOORN Taco (Ned) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
18:00:00 112 *DAINESE Alberto (Ita) Team DSM
18:01:00 102 DILLIER Silvan (Swi) Alpecin-Deceuninck
18:02:00 96 MADOUAS Valentin (Fra) Groupama-FDJ)
18:03:00 85 SANCHEZ Luis Leon (Spa) Bahrain Victorious
18:04:00 73 GESCHKE Simon (Ger) Cofidis
18:05:00 67 TORRES BARCELO Albert (Spa) Movistar
18:06:00 53 *BAGIOLI Andrea (Ita) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
18:07:00 43 HALLER Marco (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
18:08:00 33 CHEREL Mikael (Fra) AG2R Citroën
18:09:00 26 ROWE Luke (Gbr) Ineos Grenadiers
18:10:00 14 KUSS Sepp (usa) Jumbo-Visma
18:11:00 2 BENNETT George (NZL) UAE Team Emirates
18:12:00 218 SCHÖNBERGER Sebastian (aut) B & B Hotels-KTM
18:13:00 206 JUUL JENSEN Christopher (Den) BikeExchange-Jayco
18:14:00 191 FROOME Chris (GBR) Israel-Premier Tech
18:15:00 186 OSS Daniel (Ita) Total Energies
18:16:00 172 CICCONE Giulio (Ita) Trek-Segafredo
18:17:00 166 VAN MOER Brent (Bel) Lotto Soudal
18:18:00 155 HOFSTETTER Hugo (Fra) Arkea-Samsic
18:19:00 145 DOULL Owain (GBR) EF Education-Easypost
18:20:00 134 FELLINE Fabio (Ita) Astana-Qazaqstan
18:21:00 123 GOOSSENS Kobe (Bel) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
18:22:00 113 DEGENKOLB John (Ger) Team DSM
18:23:00 103 GOGL Michael (AUT) Alpecin-Deceuninck
18:24:00 95 LE GAC Olivier (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
18:25:00 86 TEUNS Dylan (Bel) Bahrain Victorious
18:26:00 75 LAFAY Victor (Fra) Cofidis
18:27:00 63 IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI Gorka (Spa) Movistar
18:28:00 58 SENECHAL Florian (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
18:29:00 48 VAN POPPEL Danny (Ned) Bora-Hansgrohe
18:30:00 35 DEWULF Stan (Bel) AG2R Citroën
18:31:00 23 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan (Spa) Ineos Grenadiers
18:32:00 12 BENOOT Tiesj (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
18:33:00 8    HIRSCHI Marc (Swi) UAE Team Emirates
18:34:00 211 BONNAMOUR Franck (Fra) B & B Hotels-KTM
18:35:00 205 JANSEN Amund Grøndahl (Nor) BikeExcchange-Jayco
18:36:00 194 FUGLSANG Jakob (Den) Israel-Premier Tech
18:37:00 187 TURGIS Anthony (Fra) TotalEnergies
18:38:00 177 SKUJINS Toms (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
18:39:00 165 *KRON Andreas (Den) Lotto Soudal
18:40:00 157 OWSIAN Lukasz (Pol) Arkea-Samsic
18:41:00 143 BETTIOL Alberto (Ita) EF Education-Easypost
18:42:00 131 LUTSENKO Alexey (Kaz) Astana-Qazaqstan
18:43:00 128 *ZIMMERMANN Georg (Ger) Intermache-Wanty Gobert
18:44:00 114 *EEKHOFF Nils (Ned) Team DSM
18:45:00 107 SBARAGLI Kristian (Ita) Alpecin-Deceuninck
18:46:00 98 *STORER Michael (Aus) Groupama-FDJ
18:47:00 83 GRADEK Kamil (Pol) Bahrain Victorious
18:48:00 72 PERICHON Pierre Luc (Fra) Cofidis
18:49:00 62 ERVITI Imanol (Spa) Movistar
18:50:00 55 *HONORÉ Mikkel (Den) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
18:51:00 46 POLITT Nils (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe)
18:52:00 37 NAESEN Oliver (Bel) AG2R Citroën
18:53:00 25 *PIDCOCK Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers
18:54:00 17 VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan (Ned) Jumbo-Visma)
18:55:00 7 SOLER Marc (Spa) UAE Team Emirates

The Tour de France gets underway on Friday. Denmark is all set to play host for the opening three stages generating a lot of excitement in Copenhagen, the city of cycling and the place where bikes outnumber cars by five to one.

The city has been home to the kings of Denmark for centuries. All eyes will be on the opening time trial, with crowds waiting to see who will take the top step of the podium and be anointed king for the day in the races first Maillot Jaune (yellow jersey) in this famous capital city. 

Here at Cycling Weekly we’ve been inspired by the marvellous work of Rasmus Nowak Franklin (@NowakFranklin_) on Twitter. Rasmus has compiled a masterful series of tweets highlighting all the wonderful historical stories that København has to offer. If you’re lucky enough to be in Denmark for the start of the race, make sure to check out his journey round the capital city and enjoy the highlights on your way. 

Did you know that the racing action will begin alongside the city’s ancient walls? After the end of absolutism in Denmark and the dawn of democracy, the walls were torn down to mark the arrival of the Danish constitution named “Grundloven” and so began the expansion of the heavily-populated city. 

As the likes of Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič line up on the starting ramp of the time trial, they will be able to glance to their right into the hilly Ørstedsparken. Just one of a series of parks that the capital has to offer. Perhaps the two Slovenians, and favourites for the race, will enjoy a stroll around the park, gathering their thoughts before action gets underway. 

Although it’s hard to imagine either enjoying a Smørrebrød (a Danish open sandwich) beforehand, they’ll save the delicacies for the spectators. The park was named after brothers H.S and A.S Ørste, the former a famed Danish physicist. 

As the riders proceed around the course, they’ll speed down the avenue, Øster Allé, past the Parken Stadium the home of F.C. København and the Danish national football team. This was where Brentford footballer, Christian Eriksen, suffered a heart attack during a Euro 2020 match. With the lack of football action in July, perhaps we’ll see a sea of København fans cheering the riders along as the Carlsberg flows freely. 

As well as beautiful parks, football stadiums and other significant monuments, the race will pass multiple sites where the Danish King’s Guard fought with opposing forces during the second World War. Denmark was occupied until May 1945. 

Further along the course, the riders will eventually pass the two main buildings that form Denmark’s ‘epicentre of power’. Christiansborg and Børsen. Christiansborg has been the centre of power  in Denmark since the 1100’s and multiple castles have been built on the current buildings site.

Currently the home of the Danish parliament, the castle has also played host to television film crews as a key filming location in hit Danish TV show, Borgen. Keep your eyes peeled for a Filippo Ganna  shaped blur passing across your screens in a future series.

Ride out west

That’s far from all of the cultural delight that will come out of the Tour de France visiting Denmark. Stage two begins in Roskilde, home of one of the largest music festivals in Europe and the largest festival in the Nordics. 

Beginning in the 1970s, Roskilde Festival has a long track record of attracting some of the biggest names in the business including Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. This year’s festival finishes on Saturday, the day the riders roll out of town heading for Nyborg.

Sadly any fans of the Strokes among the peloton will miss out on the delights of the Brooklyn band. The indie group headline on Saturday evening and even the most accommodating of sports directors is unlikely to permit a mad two-wheeled dash, back to catch them. 

Those riders and cycling fans who enjoy ‘swotting up’ on their grand tour journey will be all ears at the news that the race crosses an 18 kilometre bridge on the way into Nyborg. The ‘Great belt’, or ‘East Bridge’ has the sixth-widest span in the world. Typically, cyclists aren’t permitted to use the bridge. 

However, never mind your widest-span records. When the Tour de France crosses the bridge this Saturday 2 July, it will become the longest bridge ever crossed over in a bike race. Certainly one to add in to a Tour de France quiz and impress all your cycling friends with your new-found knowledge this July. 

Ineos Grenadiers head into Sunday's Paris-Roubaix with a strategy of not having one pure leader, but instead an intriguing mix of experience and youth, power and guile.

What is notable, however, was that the two riders put up for the team's press conference on Friday were Michał Kwiatkowski and Filippo Ganna, so one might derive from that they might be nudged slightly ahead of the other five in the squad.

Ganna, the world time-trial champion claimed he doesn't know why people think he's a favourite for Paris-Roubaix, laughing off the suggestion that Tom Boonen had picked him as his one to watch. Yet the bookmakers have him joint fourth for Sunday, and his time-trialling prowess might just be the thing to conquer the pavé of northern France, in the mould of Fabian Cancellara. 

Kwiatowski, meanwhile, the winner of last Sunday's Amstel Gold Race, stressed that they would be racing "really without a pure leader because we believe in the strength of the team".

It is certainly a strong team. Alongside the pair are Luke Rowe, who finished 8th in 2015, Dylan van Baarle, who recently was runner up at the Tour of Flanders, and Magnus Sheffield, who won Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday. Add in Ben Turner, one of the revelations of the spring, and Cameron Wurf, and it looks like a result could come from anywhere.

When this was put to Ganna, the Italian replied: "It's a good mix, we have a lot of experience with Kwiato, Luke and Cam, and a lot of young riders like me, Ben and Sheffield. 

"We will see in the race if it's a good mix for the future, but for sure with a big road captain with Luke, we have a lot of experience for this race. We will see, the team have given everyone massive support."

He said that he would have to imagine the race as "one TT of 260km". 

All but two of Ganna's 16 road victories have come against the clock, the exceptions being a breakaway win in the 2020 Giro and a stage of the Etoile de Bessèges last year.

He has also won multiple team and individual pursuit medals on the track, and is part of the current world and Olympic champion team pursuit squad.

The Italian has never finished Roubaix, coming in outside the time limit in 2018 and then not finishing the race in 2019, but has been training hard for this opportunity.

Ganna has been working at the Montichiari track in Italy, with Italian national track coach Marco Villa, replicating the high-intensity efforts he will need over the cobbled sectors. It was at the track and not on the road due to the upcoming Track World Cup.

"We have tried to do good training sessions on the track, to simulate the pavé," he said. "We will see in two days, if we can enter in the velodrome in a good position. For sure we have a super team, you see also in the races up to now. "

Astonishingly, Sunday's race will be just the second time that Kwiatkowski has raced Roubaix, due to his usual preference for the Ardennes Classics. His first experience was the 2021 edition, so Sunday's dry race will be completely different.

The Pole said that he felt like a "neo-pro" racing on the cobbles.

"I always have a good feeling on the cobbles..." he said. "I'm super motivated, but at the same time it's hard for me to speak about the race, because I feel like a neo-pro really, coming into Roubaix."

Asked if he regretted not targeting The Hell of the North more in his career, Kwiatkowski said that it was "tricky" to fit in all the "great races".

"The body has limitations, you can't combine so many great races," he explained. "The combination of the Ardennes and the cobbled Classics is always a tricky one.... It's always a hard choice, you're picking up the race programme based on experience. You can change a little bit but not completely. 

"This year, changing the dates of Amstel and Roubaix gave me that opportunity of trying something new of combining those Ardennes races and Roubaix... I'm just happy Roubaix is placed now in the calendar."

The team rode the final 107km of the course, which was crucial for the Pole, he explained, as he needed to rediscover the sectors, and the roads in between.

"We did the last 107km of the race, which for me was discovering how it is to race on the good cobbles in the dry conditions," he said. "Remind myself how the roads are looking in between the sectors. There are plenty of sections to remember, so far I haven't been racing Roubaix every year, so for me it's crucial to be again on those roads just to bring up the memories from last year a little bit."

As for the strong team he will be a part of, Kwiatkowski said that they are keen to use the momentum to their advantage - they have won the last two one-day races. If you add on Van Baarle's second place at Flanders, and Pidcock's third place at Dwars door Vlaanderen, it has been a seriously impressive couple of months.

"Looking at our strengths as a team, you have to be confident and believe in your abilities," he said. "Because the combination we have in the team, going really without a pure leader because we believe in the strength of the team, that tactics can play a key role. We have nothing to be afraid of. There are plenty of big favourites, but looking at our past races, we just want to go with momentum and use that to our advantage."

On Sunday, we will see if the Ineos ball can keep rolling.

Filippo Ganna impressed his Ineos Grenadiers team-mates after finishing 11th on stage four of the UAE Tour, with both Adam Yates and Luke Plapp singing his praises after the race. 

The Italian managed to keep himself within touching distance of the leading group, his stocky frame powering up the 20km, 5.5 per cent average gradient mountain to Jebel Jais. His performance meant he finished three seconds back on stage winner Tadej Pogačar, with the Slovenian now leading him by just two seconds on general classification. 

"Ganna in second," Yates highlighted after the finish. "A top ten of climbers and then the big fella.

"Plapp did a great job closing moves and then his attack was impressive in the final trying to chip off for the win. And the big fella was still there. So it’s been a good day."

"Ride of the day - Ganna," Plapp echoed. "It was awesome to see him do that and so nearly take the red jersey."

Adam Yates managed a second-place finish on the 181km mountain race, crossing the line just behind GC rival Pogačar. The Briton worked well with team-mates Luke Plapp and Ganna towards Jebel Jais, and now moves up to fourth overall. 

"We did a really good race," Yates said. "But to be honest on this climb, it’s pretty hard to get it right. With a five per cent average the whole way and the wind plays a factor so we tried to be conservative today.

"I was with Pogačar but he’s pretty quick on this type of finish hey? It was the best we could do but we gave it a crack. Like we've said all along, Saturday will be the critical climb."

The aforementioned Luke Plapp is riding his first stage race for the team this week, with his stage four performance an impressive showing. 

The Australian quashed attacks during the climb, and even attempted an attack of his own 500m out from the finish line. While the 21-year-old didn't have enough left in the tank to make the move stick, he is encouraged that Yates is still in contention to win the UAE Tour. 

"It was good fun," Plapp said. "I thought we controlled it pretty well. But it was too easy to ride tempo up that climb I think. Once you had a gap it was too easy for the group to ride it back.  

"But we gave it a crack and Adam got second so it keeps us in the fight for the final day and anything can happen there. We’re still in the hunt."

The next two stages will favour the sprinters once again, before the finale on Saturday to Jebel Hafeet will determine the UAE Tour winner. 

Filippo Ganna was disqualified on the final stage of the Tour de la Provence for an illegal bike change mid-way through the race.

The Italian fell foul of UCI rules after stopping near the front of the bunch to swap his normal disc brake bike to a lighter, rim brake version before the final climb of the Tour de la Provence. Bike changes during races is allowed, but must be completed from a team car at the back of the bunch - something Ganna failed to adhere to.

In fact, it seems Ganna switched bikes at a predetermined location, which isn't allowed under UCI regulations. A bike must always come from a support vehicle, unless explicitly permitted otherwise, for example during a time trial at the foot of a final climb.

The regulations state: "Mechanical assistance at fixed locations on the course is limited to wheel changes only except for races on a circuit where bike changes can be made in the authorized zones."

The Ineos Grenadiers rider won the prologue time trial convincingly, and entered the final stage to Montagne de Lure with the leader's jersey, though the steep 13.4km final climb with a gradient of 6.5 per cent made it unlikely Ganna would hold onto first place in Provence. 

On the final stage of Tour de la Provence the 25-year-old finished 12th, with this result seemingly dropping him to seventh-place overall in the general classification. Regardless, Ganna produced a strong performance for a rider not associated with challenging during climbs.

However, officials submitted a revised results sheet after the conclusion of the race, listing Ganna as 'DSQ' - disqualified - ultimately removing him from the general classification and losing the corresponding UCI points.

Nairo Quintana of Arkéa Samsic won the final stage to take overall victory at the race, finishing half a minute ahead of everyone else to take his first victories of the season. He attacked during the climb to the finish line, managing to shake off Julian Alaphilippe in the process to cap a memorable performance. 

Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) continued his 100 per cent record in time trials this year with a thunderous display in the prologue at the Tour de la Provence.

The world champion built on his win in the final stage of Étoile de Bessèges last week, bettering his team-mate Ethan Hayter by 12 seconds to take the race lead.

With this victory, the Ineos Grenadiers rider repeated the success of his last appearance at the race in 2019, when he took his first pro win in the opening time trial in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.

How it happened

The 7.1km circuit along the northern edge of the Étang de Berre lagoon was one that would pose few technical obstacles for the riders. The route was organised as a simple out-and-back with just 28m total elevation on smooth, straight roads.

The first rider to roll down the ramp was Kevin Besson (Nice Métropole Côte d'Azur) who had barely crossed the line before his minute man, Israel-Premier Tech’s Patrick Bevin, took the lead of the race. Tobias Ludvigsson (Groupama FDJ) then bettered the New Zealander’s time and spent an extended spell in the hot seat.

Since its creation in 2016, the hilly parcours of the Tour de la Provence has typically suited the climbers. Nairo Quintana (Arkéa-Samsic), who won the 2020 edition of the race, rode aggressively in his effort. The Colombian clocked an impressive time of 8-35, showing himself determined not to concede valuable seconds that could later damage his bid for the general classification.

Defending champion Iván Sosa (Movistar) was not in such strong form. Sosa lost 34 seconds to his compatriot, a significant gap to have to make up when the race heads to the mountains at the weekend.

Amongst the GC favourites, Ineos Grenadiers rider Ethan Hayter looked the most assured on the course. The British time trial champion glided through the prologue circuit, controlled in his positioning, to set a new time to beat of 8-16.

Then along came Ganna. With a grin and a wave to the cameras, the 25-year-old thundered down the start ramp and through the first right-hand turn. The world champion appeared effortless as he powered round the circuit to give another signature time trial performance.

A little over eight minutes after setting off, Ganna crossed the finish line with a blistering average speed of 52.8km/h.

The Italian will wear the Mondrian-inspired leader’s jersey on Stage 1 of the four-day race which goes from Istres to Les-Saintes-Maries-de-La-Mer on Friday. 

Results

Tour de la Provence 2022, prologue ITT: Berre l’Étang to Berre l’Étang (7.1km)

1. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers, in 8-04
2. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 12s
3. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Groupama-FDJ, at 13s
4. Samuele Battistella (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan, at 14s
5. Pierre Latour (Fra) Total Energies, at 15s
6. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 17s
7. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Total Energies, at 17s
8. Mathias Norsgaard Jorgensen (Den) Movistar, at 18s
9. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 18s
10. Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 19s

General classification after prologue

1. Filippo Ganna (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers, in 8-04
2. Ethan Hayter (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers, at 12s
3. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Groupama-FDJ, at 13s
4. Samuele Battistella (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan, at 14s
5. Pierre Latour (Fra) Total Energies, at 15s
6. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 17s
7. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Total Energies, at 17s
8. Mathias Norsgaard Jorgensen (Den) Movistar, at 18s
9. Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 18s
10. Ilan Van Wilder (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, at 19s

Filippo Ganna is to be given the freedom to explore his own chances at the Classics this year, as the Italian seeks to break out of his assumed role.

The double world time trial champion wants to prove that there is more to his cycling than simply racing against the clock. He has form, showing his power on the sterrato stage of last year's Giro d'Italia, blowing the race apart. 

To that end, he will be given opportunities by his Ineos Grenadiers team at Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo, two races where his ability to harness serious watts should be incredibly useful.

“I have discussed it with the team,” the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “This year I will also have my own chances, I will have more carte blanche, with the team at my disposal. A calendar has been designed for me to make the most of my abilities.”

"There will be great opportunities to show that I am not ‘just’ a time triallist or a track cyclist," he argued.

All but two of Ganna's 16 road victories have come against the clock, the exceptions being a breakaway win in the 2020 Giro and a stage of the Etoile de Bessèges last year.

He has also won multiple team and individual pursuit medals on the track, and is part of the current world and Olympic champion team pursuit squad.

Towards the end of last year his coach, Dario Cioni, told Cycling Weekly that he hoped that Ganna would pursue more than just time trials in his career.

"A lot of people push him towards being like [Fabian] Cancellara or [Miguel] Indurain because of the similarities," he said. "But I just think Filippo is Ganna, and while I want him to be remembered as the best time triallist of all time - which I think he will be - it will be even better if he also won Roubaix, won San Remo, maybe Flanders, or maybe even a Grand Tour."

Cancellara might well be the model for Ganna. The Swiss rider was a four-time world time trial champion between 2006 and 2010 while also focusing on the Classics. With his power and skill, he won Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders three times, and also Milan-San Remo in 2008. 

Ganna won Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, the under-23 version of the Hell of the North, in 2016. However, it has not necessarily been a predictor of future Roubaix success, the last man to win both being Marc Madiot in 1979 and 1985, respectively.

To help with Roubaix, he has been doing more gym work: "To cope with Paris-Roubaix, I am working on my abs and the upper part of my body more than usual. When that is done, I still have to lose a few kilos in the run-up to the Tour.”

Milan-San Remo is more of a tactical race, less about sheer power than Roubaix, so the Italian will be hoping that his new role will allow him to stay with the best over the Cipressa and the Poggio. His best finish in his four previous attempts has been 74th.

There are also still rumours about the Italian attempting the Hour Record, but when and where are yet to be confirmed.

Filippo Ganna isn't lacking motivation heading into 2022. While he confirmed he will attempt the Hour Record, should the circumstances be right, he also has his sights set on success at Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France. 

Speaking at the Giro d'Onore, the Italian cycling federation's annual awards ceremony, Ganna revealed he plans to attempt the oft-discussed Hour Record. The Italian rider has often suggested he will challenge Victor Campenaerts' 55.089km Hour Record, but he explained everything will have to fall perfectly into place in order to do so. 

Ganna said: “We have to see if we can arrange everything exactly as I would like. I'm thinking about it and we're working on it with the team. Because if you do, we shouldn't leave anything to chance.

"In any case, I'm not going to make the attempt at height, as many advise to do. I will then attack the world Hour Record at sea level. When I do it that way, it's different and that gives me more satisfaction.”

Starting his season in Argentina at the Vuelta a San Juan at the end of January, the 25-year-old also said he is targeting both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix next season, before expressing his desire to wear the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France. 

He said: “I dream of the yellow jersey. I would love to wear it, even if it won't be easy as it's a tough race. The first chance presents itself on the first day, in the opening time trial. Then we have to see how it goes, but I'm sure of one thing: it will be tough every day."

Ganna also delved into a highly successful 2021 season, which he is hoping to replicate somewhat with his aforementioned ambitions. 

He understandably cited the Olympics and the World Championships as a highlight. In Tokyo, he picked up the team pursuit gold medal, before finishing first in the same event at the Track World Championships. He also came third in the individual pursuit at the Worlds.

The Road World Championships also presented success for Ganna, who secured first in the time trial and a third-place finish in the team relay. Add his two ITT stage wins on the Giro d'Italia, and Ganna clearly enjoyed an exceptional 2021. 

Filippo Ganna told La Gazzette dello Sport at the Trento Festival of Sport that he is contemplating attempting the Hour Record, after he finished a 30-minute test on the track with 115 laps - which is an average speed of 57.5km/h.

Currently, the Hour Record is held by Victor Campenaerts, after he cycled 55.089km in 2019 at the Aguascalientes Bicentenary Velodrome in Mexico. Four riders have officially attempted the challenge since the Belgian set the record, but they all failed to ride further. 

While Ganna's 30-minute test came in an unofficial setting, the stats highlight that he would've broken the Hour Record if he had continued at the same pace for double the time. Consequently, the Italian is now considering if he will set his sights on the goal, giving an idea as to when he'll attempt the challenge at the Trento Festival of Sport. 

"I'll think about it in January," Ganna said. "Maybe next summer.

“I tried in Montichiari after a period of altitude after the Giro, but it only lasted 30 minutes, and it was really tiring. I understand that everything must be planned well, it is something that requires an incredible effort. We will see in the future, we will talk about it later. Let's hope one day to uncork a good bottle of rosé to celebrate…"

Ganna, who won the team pursuit gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, completed the 115 laps in 30 minutes after winning two stages at the Giro this summer. The 25-year-old won the first stage, a time trial, after achieving an average speed of 58.8 km/h, and is a clear candidate to break the Hour Record set by Campenaerts.

Ganna also spoke of the inspiration that fellow countryman Elia Viviani provided him after the latter won gold at the Rio Olympics. 

"He paved the way for us, he helped people rediscover the pleasure of watching from this specialty on TV, thrilling us with the Rio gold that has changed many things. He showed us that we could grow and do something important .

"The track has something special. When you understand it, you won't give it up."

However, his dedication won't come at a detriment to his enjoyment, as the Ineos Grenadiers rider's perception of cycling has changed since when he was a child. 

"This sport, cycling, represents me and gives me joy. And to think that as a child I said: I don't like it, too much effort."

Ganna times his return to form perfectly

And those quiet murmurs have been silenced: Filippo Ganna remains the best time triallist around. Was it ever really in doubt?

A fourth-place in the Italian nationals, fifth at the Tokyo Olympics and a silver medal at the recent European Championships had indicated that the Italian machine was not quite producing his trademark best against the clock, but in what was quite predictable fashion, the 25-year-old successfully retained his rainbow stripes after a superb afternoon’s racing in Belgium.

The Italian did it in a manner that broke Belgian hearts, too, coming from behind to overtake Wout van Aert and beat him by six seconds despite being in arrears to the Jumbo-Visma man at both checkpoints.

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Ganna is an expert in pacing his effort on a parcours, and quite clearly he is also the best in the business at timing his form right.

The time trial star of his generation delivers again.

Home success snatched away at the death

Filippo Ganna’s gain was heartbreak for the home nation.

Remco Evenepoel set the day’s fastest time early on and so fast was it at an average speed of 53.549kph, the crowd by the road can be forgiven for thinking they had witnessed the day’s winner-in-waiting.

It then became clear that Evenepoel wouldn’t be winning gold but top spot would still likely belong to Belgium, Van Aert going more than half-a-minute faster than his compatriot, only for the pair to both be denied by Ganna.

Silver for Van Aert is a repetition of his result in Imola, Italy, 12 months ago, and bronze for Evenepoel is just his second medal in the event after finishing second in 2019.

Neither, however, will be satisfied, for perennial winners – and the in-form pair are exactly that – view silver and bronze as first and second losers.

The wait for a male Belgian time trial world champion goes on.

Not to be for Küng

Stefan Küng just cannot convert continental glory into global triumph.

Winner of the European time trial title the past two seasons and four time trials this season alone, the Swiss was one of the favourites to snatch the rainbow bands off Filippo Ganna, but the 27-year-old finished outside the medal spots in fifth, a significant 1-07 off the Italian winner.

Last year Küng finished third in Italy, making his result in Belgium a more disappointing one, and he never looked on course to even threaten Remco Evenepoel who had occupied the race leader’s chair for a long duration.

It’s hard to be too critical of Küng, but his victory against Ganna 10 days ago would have provided him with the confidence he needed to believe he could better his rival once more.

It was not to be though, and Küng will again have to wait one more year to claim that elusive world title to add to his palmarès.

Asgreen denied medal on emotional day for Denmark

The Worlds began in mourning with the tragic passing of Chris Anker Sørensen, the former Danish pro who was killed while out riding in Belgium on Saturday.

Hugely likeable and an esteemed rider, Sørensen’s early death at just 37 touched the entire cycling world, and thus it was an unenviable task that lay in wait for Mikkel Bjerg and Kasper Asgreen who had to fly the Danish flag just hours after the news broke.

>>> ‘Unbearable that we will never see each other again’: Cycling world responds to death of Chris Anker Sørensen

Riding in his compatriot’s honour, Asgreen rode exceptionally well, the Tour of Flanders winner finishing off the podium by an agonising two seconds to settle for fourth-place.

A strong time triallist – he has been the Danish champion in the discipline for the past three years – his ride in Belgium was still better than what was expected, a huge testament to the 26-year-old on a horrible, difficult day for Danish cycling.

Martin bows out with a strong showing

Four-time world champion Tony Martin announced before the day’s racing that he would be retiring from the sport at the end of this week’s World Championships.

An unexpected announcement given that the German still had a year left on his contract with Jumbo-Visma, the 36-year-old bowed out on a high, finishing an impressive sixth.

When he crossed the line in Bruges he was provisionally second before being knocked back by the late finishers, but nonetheless one of the finest riders of this century can be immensely proud with how he has signed off.

He will retire after the mixed team relay race a winner of 67 professional races, 50 of which came in time trials.

Athletes always talk about wanting to end on a high, when they are still competitive, and that is exactly how Martin will hang up his racing wheels. Chapeau.