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CW Live: Remco Evenepoel wins Giro d'Italia stage nine time trial; Blow-by-blow updates from the Italian Grand Tour; Tour de Hongrie final stage neutralised

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Thymen Arensman time trialling in Cesena

(Image credit: Getty)

Hello and welcome to another Cycling Weekly live blog. It's Sunday, but there's no rest for the Giro d'Italia peloton as they take on the second, and longest, of the three individual time trials at this year's race. 

From around midday UK time, I'll be providing live updates from stage nine's 35km race against the clock. The top 10 on GC start rolling out from 3pm, so if you're heading out for a ride, make sure you're back and showered by then. 

If you want to get in touch with me, don't hesitate to reach out through Twitter - my handle is @t_davidson

Key updates: 

09:57 - Important ITT start times for stage nine of the Giro d'Italia

10:37 - Why Filippo Ganna isn't in today's time trial

11:05 - Primož Roglič Covid rumours

11:34 - Tour de Hongrie final stage neutralised due to weather conditions

11:57 - Giro d'Italia ITT course in detail

12:15 - Live updates from stage nine of the Giro d'Italia

16:07 - Remco Evenepoel wins Giro d'Italia stage nine

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Giro d'Italia time trial - key start times

Remco Evenepoel

(Image credit: Getty)

Today's ninth stage at the Giro d'Italia offers a 35km time trial between Savignano sul Rubicone and Cesena. Though the course is pan-flat, there are a lot of tricky corners to deal with, which will no doubt be made more difficult by the rain that's currently falling over the region. 

Here are some of the key start times (BST) to look out for when the stage gets underway this afternoon. The riders will roll out in order of where they stand in the general classification, with pink-jersey-wearer Andreas Leknessund (Team DSM) off last. 

12:15 - Veljko Stojnić (Ita) Corratec-Selle Italia - first rider down the ramp
12:21 - Mark Cavendish (GBr) Astana Qazaqstan
12:35 - Charlie Quarterman (GBr) Corratec-Selle Italia
12:55 - Jonathan Milan (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
13:00 - Thomas Gloag (GBr) Jumbo-Visma
13:33 - Rohan Dennis (Aus) Jumbo-Visma
13:48 - Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
14:06 - Ben Healy (Irl) EF Education-EasyPost
14:18 - Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ

GC Top 10

15:01 - Lennard Kämna (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
15:04 - Damiano Caruso (Ita) Bahrain Victorious
15:07 - Aleksandr Vlasov, Bora-Hansgrohe
15:10 - Aurelién Paret-Peintre (Fra) AG2R Citroën
15:13 - Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
15:16 - Geraint Thomas (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers
15:19 - João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates
15:22 - Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
15:25 - Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
15:28 - Andreas Leknessund (Nor) Team DSM 

For a complete list of the start times, visit this page collated by our sister site Cyclingnews

A Ganna-less time trial

Filippo Ganna

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Unfortunately, we won't see the Italian tricolour in today's individual time trial, as Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) had to withdraw from the race ahead of yesterday's stage. 

The two-time world champion returned a positive Covid test, after displaying mild, flu-like symptoms. 

A team statement, released yesterday, said: "Filippo will now rest and recover fully before resuming his remaining 2023 race programme." 

Since 2020, Ganna has won five individual time trials at the Giro d'Italia, a record bettered by nobody in recent years. He came second on stage one, 22 seconds down on Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step).

Does Primož Roglič have Covid? 

Primoz Roglic with a mask on at the Giro d'Italia

(Image credit: Getty)

Primož Roglič has been planting seeds of doubt about his condition at the Giro d'Italia, jokingly telling his rivals that he has Covid. 

After yesterday's stage eight, when the Slovenian attacked the GC group and gained 14 seconds on Evenepoel, Geraint Thomas told the press: "Not bad for a guy with Covid.

"He told me yesterday that he had Covid. So I said, 'Stay away from me, then'," the Welshman added.

"He always says he's got bad legs. 'Ah the race is hard, eh. This is too hard, eh, I go home.' And then he goes and wins by ten minutes. Who knows with him, it's all mind games." 

Asked by Cyclingnews if there is any truth in Roglič's Covid whispers, Jumbo-Visma sports director Addy Engels said: "To be honest, you surprise me with this rumour, because I don't know anything about this rumour." 

Another member of staff was more frank with Cyclingnews. "It's bullshit," they said. 

Tour de Hongrie final stage neutralised

The fifth and final stage of the Tour de Hongrie has been neutralised due to adverse weather conditions. 

As a result, there will be no stage winner, and the GC will remain unchanged, with Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) declared the winner, and 21-year-old Brit Ben Tulett (Ineos Grenadiers) the runner-up. 

The riders will complete eight laps of a rain-drenched circuit in Budapest "for the fans". 

A statement from the race organisers read: "After ongoing discussions with the teams, due to the weather conditions and the slippery track that comes with it, the 5th Stage of Tour de Hongrie is neutralized.

"There will be no intermediate sprints, no points, no stage winner. The riders will do 8 laps around the circuit for the fans. GC stays the same as yesterday. The stage starts at 12:00 CET."

See more

Giro d'Italia stage nine course detailed