With the images on double screen, the chronicler contemplates two scenes: on one side, the dizzying pedaling, a scrambled point, of the pink Tadej Pogacar. On the other, occupying the hot seat, the face of Filippo Ganna.
It’s been more than an hour since Ganna (27), the Italian giant, perhaps the best time trialist of the moment, set the best time trial record of the day.
And tense, wait.
One by one, the rivals pass and give way.
Arensman loses 1m07s.
O’Connor, 1m25s.
The promising Antonio Tiberi, 1m19s.
Geraint Thomas is also giving up, but Pogacar (25) comes hard, he twists on the Lombard roads, he has fury in his pedaling and determination in his soul. It is true, the Slovenian is well ahead in the general classification and, this Sunday, the peloton ascends Mortirolo, more wood for the climber.
But this man, Pogacar, likes to win everything.
Pogacar is a cannibal like Merckx was, and he throws himself into an open grave: in any scenario, in any steep slope, in any sprint, he gives everything.
In the 7km section, the skinny Slovenian has gained two seconds on the giant Ganna, whose face, in the hot seat, becomes tense. Ganna sees himself before the demons: something like this he had experienced a week before, in the first time trial of this pogacariado Giro, when Pogacar had knocked him down, opening a 17-second margin.
Aren’t the time trials his, Ganna will say, wasn’t he born for this discipline?
How can a sharp guy, supposedly designed for climbing, make you suffer like this?
Ganna suffers but in the end, his face begins to relax, because the one who really suffers is Pogacar, and as the mileage lengthens, the Slovenian loses gas and efficiency and ends up giving up the time trial, losing 29 seconds at the finish line in Desenzano del Garda, beautiful overlooking Lake Garda.
Respira, Ganna.
–I have come to say to myself: ‘being second is not that serious either’ –the Italian giant would confess to Eurosport, whose record already includes five partial victories in the Giro–. Well, I was blocked with emotions, at the possibility of doing it in Italy and so close to the lake, which is like my second home.
And Pogacar?
He expresses himself on the bicycle, a skinny dictator as forceful in pedaling as he is affable and close in off-road dealings. He does not make mistakes and does not know any significant rivals in this Giro that has been his from the beginning (he has been the leader since the second stage; he has claimed three partial victories and two second places), so favorably on his side that the adversaries insist on pursuing him. remains, helpless every time the road turns straight and the Slovenian takes out the knife.
(Geraint Thomas surpasses Daniel Felipe Martínez, he is now second and the Colombian, vulnerable against the clock, is third)
What’s coming now?
Three high mountain stages starting this Sunday (with Mortirolo in the middle), and a fourth on Saturday, an intimidating scenario for the peloton: when Pogacar stands up, everyone will tremble.
