Giro 2023 – Remco Evenepoel crushes the time trial and endorses the pink jersey

The first duel of the Giro between Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic turned into a demonstration. Overpowered, absolutely untouchable on the flat sections, the Belgian exploded the inaugural time of this 106th edition of the Tour of Italy, traced over 19.6km between Fossacisa and Ortona. The winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège won ahead of Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers, + 22”) and Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates, + 29”) but above all he pushed Roglic back more than forty seconds (+ 43”). A huge slap that allows the Belgian to adorn himself with the first pink jersey of this Giro 2023.

Already a big slap for Roglic

With Remco Evenepoel, we are used to expecting everything. However, the Belgian still and always manages to surprise us. Not that seeing him win at Ortona, and take the first pink jersey of this Giro, is a real surprise. An excellent rider, Evenepoel was one of the favorites for the stage and he perfectly assumed this status by seeking his first victory in the Tour of Italy. On an initially flat course before a small bump (1.2kml at 5.3%) in the final, the Belgian signed an XXL performance to get ahead of the Italian champion in the discipline, Filippo Ganna (+ 12 ‘ ‘). But what was less predictable are the gaps on his opponents.

A pure exercise specialist, Stefan Küng took a big slap (5th, +43”). The Belgian’s No. 1 opponent on this Giro, Primoz Rogllic was one of the other candidates for the stage. But the Slovenian suffered a major setback in his quest for the pink jersey. Yet Olympic champion of the exercise, the leader of the Jumbo-Visma seemed hesitant, almost not in place on his bike. And, on arrival, the slap is terrible for the Slovenian, 6th in the stage of course, but 43” from Evenepoel. A monstrous disbursement which already casts doubt on his chances of overthrowing the Giro, even if the race has only just begun. The observation is the same for Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers), pushed back to 55”.

Pinot suffered

In the end, it was the outsiders who pulled out of the game. Yet in difficulty in time since his arrival at UAE Team Emirates, Joao Almeida pulled out his gala clothes on the Giro by being the best of the “others” behind Evenepoel and Ganna , with a promising 3rd place (+29”) for those who dream of the podium. A dream in which Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers), 4th at 40”, and Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe), 10th at 55”, can also believe. The two men limited the breakage.

On the other hand, the addition is heavier for the Bahrain-Victorious Jack Haig (38th, + 1’36 ”) and Damiano Caruso (31st, + 1’28 ”), for the EF Education Easy-Post Hugh Carthy ( 56th, + 1’56”) and Rigoberto Uran (36th, + 1’35”). The French also had a complicated day, like Thibaut Pinot. Not necessarily a fan of these flat times, the Franc-Comtois suffered and finished in 47th place (+ 1’43 ”). Far from his teammate and best Frenchman of the day, Bruno Armirail (11th, + 57”). But the pink jersey is indeed Remco Evenepoel. Already.