Filippo Ganna claimed victory in stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia, excelling in the 31.2-kilometre individual time trial from Castiglione delle Stiviere to Desenzano del Garda. Ganna’s powerful ride saw him finish 29 seconds ahead of Tadej Pogacar, with Thymen Arensman taking third place.
Ganna, a time trial specialist, was in his element as he completed the course with an average speed of 53.4 kph. “Behind today’s victory, there’s so much work, especially as the difference is made by details,” Ganna shared. “People say when there’s a time trial, Ganna wins. I wish it were that easy! This win raises my morale before the last week of the Giro. There were only 32km, but it felt almost as long as Milano-Sanremo.”
Pogacar, who wore the Maglia Rosa, extended his overall lead to nearly four minutes. Reflecting on his performance, he said, “Looking at Filippo Ganna’s time checks, he put in a big effort towards the end whereas I tried to do the opposite. The first part suited me more. It was a very nice parcours. Our morale is high. We’re very strong and we’re here for only one goal: to win the Giro.”
Geraint Thomas moved up to second place in the general classification, overtaking Dani Martinez. Thomas now trails Pogacar by 3 minutes, 41 seconds. Pogacar has been dominant throughout the race, winning three stages, including the other time trial on stage 7.
The stage saw a more technical opening section with numerous twists and turns, followed by rolling terrain that allowed the riders to reach high speeds. Edoardo Affini, who finished tenth, remarked, “It was very cool to ride on familiar roads. I saw a lot of friends and family along the way. It definitely gave me wings. The first part was pretty technical, but the second part was all about pure power.”
Romain Bardet, sitting eighth in the general classification, expressed his disappointment with his performance. “To be honest, I am a bit disappointed with today, I had hoped for more,” he said. “I’ll put this behind me though and I’m really looking forward to starting a new chapter of the Giro tomorrow where we enter the high mountains.”
As the Giro heads into the high mountains and the Alps, the riders face the Queen Stage on Sunday, which features five categorised climbs and 5,200 metres of elevation on the 222-kilometre leg from Manerba del Garda to Livigno. The final ascent to Mottolino promises a challenging finish, with steep gradients along a ski slope.
Monday will be a rest day before the race continues through the daunting Dolomites, with the Giro concluding in Rome next weekend.
2024 Giro d’Italia Stage 14 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
