On Saturday, the Giro settled near Lake Garda for the second and last individual time trial of the 2024 edition. Enzo Paleni and Clément Davy gave their best while the rest of the squad kept some energy in anticipation of the big mountain stage towards Livigno on Sunday. Filippo Ganna won the day’s stage, and Tadej Pogacar secured his pink jersey.
Nine days after a first time trial, from Foligno to Perugia, a second race against the clock was on the Giro’s menu this Saturday, towards the shores of Lake Garda. This time, thirty-one kilometres had to be completed, but without a real climb like a week before. “It was a very nice course, quite technical, with a lot of ups and downs, some tight turns but nothing really dangerous,” explained Nicolas Boisson, coach of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team. “It really was a time trial for specialists.” Among the very first to go down the start ramp, Clément Davy covered the course in thirty-eight minutes and five seconds. Almost two hours later, his teammate Enzo Paleni was eleven seconds faster, in 37’54. Sixteenth on the line when he finished, almost three minutes behind the future winner Filippo Ganna, the Frenchman eventually got 33rd place at the end of the day, Clément Davy securing 36th.
“They had to deal with the current feelings”, Nicolas Boisson
“Enzo and Clément really like this discipline and they were motivated to do it 100%,” added Nicolas. “We obviously gave them the freedom to do so, as this is always important for the future. Both did a solid time trial. There was still a little fatigue after two weeks of racing, and they therefore had to deal with the current feelings. As for the others, they were told to take it a bit easy because there was not much point in doing it full gas. They have already given a lot in the last few days, and tomorrow there is a big mountain stage, with seven hours on the saddle and more than 5,000 metres of elevation. If we can save a few bullets, it’s always a good idea.” From Manerba del Garda, the riders will head towards Livigno, especially through the legendary Mortirolo as well as the Passo di Foscagno.
No comment