Filippo Ganna trained in Paris on Friday, facing rain-drenched roads ahead of Saturday’s Olympic time trial. The Italian cyclist knows that the course could be wet, making the race challenging and very fast. Ganna is among the favourites for a gold medal but recognises the threats posed by his Ineos Grenadiers teammate, Josh Tarling of Great Britain, and the current World Champion, Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.
Evenepoel clinched the world title in Glasgow last September, surpassing Ganna by just 12 seconds after 47.8 km of racing in Stirling. Tarling, at just 20 years old, finished third, 36 seconds behind Ganna. The 32.4 km Olympic time trial course is flat and fast, running from the city centre and Les Invalides to the Bois de Vincennes and back. Given the expected 55 km/h speeds, even a minor mistake could cost a medal. Whether it’s a wrong line, hitting a pothole, or being too cautious on a wet curve, the margins will be tight.
Italy pins its hopes on Ganna, particularly significant given the historic victory of Vincenzo Nibali in the Tour de France exactly ten years ago, on 27th July 2014. Reflecting on his chances, Ganna told the Italian media, “To win I need great legs, the race of my life, and no mistakes. I’ve done the work and don’t feel the pressure of being at the Olympics. It’s always special to pull on the Italian colours and ride for your country.”
Ganna’s Training Regime
Ganna has already raced over 50 days with Ineos Grenadiers, winning the second time trial stage at the Giro d’Italia, but the Olympics has always been his primary goal for 2024. While some time trial contenders will move on to the road race next Saturday, Ganna will return to Italy for final track training. He aims to lead Italy in the team pursuit, with the medal event on 7th August. Italy won the gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, thanks in part to a final effort from Ganna.
“I’ve trained like a decathlete, doing endurance work on the road and explosive training on the track,” Ganna explained. “I’ve slept at home just once since the Giro d’Italia, spending time at the velodrome, at road races, and at altitude, at 2,800 metres. It was great, my phone was off, the air was cold, and there were spectacular views across the Alps. I’ve done the hard work; now I just don’t want any regrets.”
Several of Ganna’s rivals have criticised the roads for the Paris time trial. Evenepoel even described the opening and final five kilometres as ‘shitty’. Ganna commented, “It’s a tough course. The roads are never really flat, so you’re always pushing. It’s fast, but you need to get your pacing right and have something left for the final kilometres.”
Ganna has two chances for a medal in Paris, in the time trial and on the track, but he knows these could be his last opportunities. “I raced in Rio in 2016 after we got a late call-up for the team pursuit. Tokyo was a success, but I want to make a splash in Paris for Italy. It could be my last Olympics. I’m 28, and Los Angeles seems a long way away.”
