Tadej Pogacar increased his lead at the Tour of Italy to almost four minutes after the 14e stage on Saturday when he finished second behind Filippo Ganna in an individual time trial.
As cyclists prepare to climb the Alps, Pogacar passed a message to his rivals during a 31 kilometer journey between Castiglione delle Stiviere and Desenzano del Garda.
The double Tour de France champion is now ahead of Geraint Thomas by 3 minutes 41 seconds. Daniel Martinez slipped to third, 3:56 behind Pogacar, who hopes to win the Tour of Italy and France this year.
Pogacar has already won three stages since the start of the Giro.
On Saturday, Ganna maintained an average speed of 53.4 kilometers per hour. No one came close to his time until Pogacar set off. The Slovenian finally finished 29 seconds behind his rival.
PHOTO JENNIFER LORENZINI, REUTERS
Tadej Pogacar
This is Ganna’s seventh stage victory at the Giro and his first in three years.
“It’s an intense moment to win in Italy after so long,” he said. Especially here, on the other side of the lake, it’s like my second home. »
Thymen Arensman completed the podium, 1:07 behind Ganna.
Sunday, during the 15e stage, cyclists will have to climb five categorized passes and 5200 meters of elevation during a 222 kilometer route between Manerba del Garda and the finish in Mottolino, where the last 1800 meters are on an asphalt ski slope with an inclination by 18%.
On Monday, the cyclists will enjoy their second and final rest day of the tour, which ends next weekend in Rome.