Stage 7 of Giro d’Italia 2024 invited the professional cycling peloton to a challenge on their time trial bikes. The individual time trial was to be contested on a 40.6-kilometer route from Foligno to Perugia – the capital city of Umbria in central Italy. The route concluded with a Category 4 climb to the finish line. The climb was 6.6-kilometers long and offered an average incline percentage of 4.4, but with sections of up to 11 percent.

While pushing hard in their pedals, the riders would pass by the famous Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in the town of Assisi – an important location for Christian pilgrimage in Italy. The town is known for its rich culture, history, spirituality, food and exquisite Italian wines.

Main favorites to take the stage victory in today’s individual time trial included Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates), Geraint Thomas (Ineos-Grenadiers), Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates), Filippo Ganna (Ineos-Grenadiers), Edoardo Affini (Team Visma – Lease a Bike), Magnus Sheffield (Ineos-Grenadiers), Antonio Timeri (Bahrain-Victorious), and Soudal-QuickStep’s Josef Cerny.

Edoardo Affini (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) and Josef Cerny (Soudal-QuickStep) set the early fastest times, but Daan Hoole (Lidl-Trek) clocked a faster finishing time to take the hot seat. Later, he was replaced by Movistar’s Lorenzo Milesi.

Mikkel Bjerg had been riding fast during the whole time trial and had pushed even harder on the pedals on the climb to the finish line. Bjerg approached the finish line with a significant lead over the riders who had already finished. However, Bjerg dropped his bike chain shortly before the finish line and lost valuable seconds, but managed to clock the fastest time.

Former Time Trial World Champion Filippo Ganna set out from the start ramp in a dedicated attempt of winning today’s stage 7 time trial. Ganna fought hard and once again showed his immense time trial skils. Despite not being the best climber, Ganna set a new fastest time, thereby pushing Denmark’s Bjerg on step down on the temporary stage podium.

Ganna’s Ineos-Grenadiers teammate Geraint Thomas had started his warmup. Thomas finished second in last year’s Giro d’Italia general classification after losing valuable time in the final time trial after a bike switch. Thomas arrived at this year’s Giro with the dedicated decision to erradicate any memories of last year’s disappointment, which had haunted the Welshman after his otherwise impressive performances in last year’s race.

UAE Team Emirates’ Tadej Pogacar was also warming up. He was the main favorite to take the victory in today’s time trial and the General Classification win in Rome later this month.

Geraint Thomas started his time trial looking very fast. Shortly thereafter Pogacar left the start ramp too. The next hour could potentially have a decisive effect on the General Classification result.

Pogacar was eight seconds faster than Thomas at Intermediate Timing Point 1. This was a surprise to many.

General Classification outsider Ben O’Connor finished eighth, but several riders were yet to reach the finish. A decent finish for the Australian rider who’s riding for Team Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale. 

The temporary top 3 at the finish only featured Ineos-Grenadiers riders. Magnus Sheffield was second behind leader Ganna. Thymen Arensman was in third. Would Thomas perform as well as his teammates?

At Intermediate Timing Point 2 Pogacar was in third place. Thomas was 10th, 40 seconds behind the Slovenian leader.

Bora-Hansgrohe rider Daniel Martinez crossed the finish line in 7th place.

Thomas crossed the finish line in ninth. A major disappointment for the Welshman and his Ineos-Grenadiers team.

Pogacar powered up the climb towards the finish line. Nothing could stop the Slovenian today. Pogacar’s finishing time was 17 seconds faster than Ganna who would not be taking the victory he had hoped for after his strong performance. Magnus Sheffield finished third, while Daniel Martinez finished eigth and Thomas tenth. O’Connor was 11th, while Romain Bardet finished 18th.

After winning today’s individual time trial Pogacar now leads Giro d’Italia 2024 with an even larger advantage over his competitors. Martinez is 02:36 minutes behind in second, while Thomas is 02:46 back.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete race coverage from Giro d’Italia 2024.

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