Stage 1: Statement Win For Remco
Remco EvenepoelWell, that didn’t take long. Race favorite Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) obliterated the competition in the opening individual time trial at the Giro d’Italia. The 18.4km route challenged the riders with an uphill finish. Evenepoel wasn’t phased. The time gap to the next competitor was a full twenty-two seconds.
Stage 1: Individual Time TrialWith the win, the Belgian rider moves into the pink jersey for the overall time leader. But will he want to hold on to the honor or relinquish it early to take pressure off during the 21-stage slog? Time will tell.
Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers) and João Almeida (UAE) took second and third, respectively.
Hump Day News’ Giro preview (and many others) anticipated a showdown between Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic throughout the stage race. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but after the first stage’s performance, Evenepoel has made a strong statement about who is the premier rider to watch in 2023. Slovenia’s Roglic finished 6th, forty-three seconds back.
The Australian wins with strong legs and smart team tactics.