Italian Time Trial Championships: Ganna wins – Affini fears for his Tour de France hopes after a crash

Filippo Ganna lived up to his status as favourite and has now won the Italian Time Trial Championships for the fifth time in a row (and the seventh time overall). The 29-year-old from Team Netcompany Ineos practically flew along the 40.3-kilometre course – a fairly demanding route with 616 metres of climbing – at an average speed of just over 50 km/h, crossing the finish line in 47 minutes and 39 seconds. He was 2 minutes and 6 seconds faster than the runner-up, Luca Giami (UAE Team Emirates – XRG). Third place went to Mattia Cattaneo of Team Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe (+ 2 minutes and 36 seconds).

Concerns about Edoardo Affini

Ganna’s seventh victory was, however, overshadowed by Edoardo Affini’s withdrawal, as he had also been competing for the top places. Affini crashed so badly on a descent after just six kilometres that he had to be taken to hospital, although he is reported to have been responsive. The 30-year-old’s participation in the Tour de France is now in jeopardy. Should he not recover in time, Team Visma | Lease a Bike would lose yet another key support rider for Jonas Vingegaard and his title ambitions in the Tour de France, following the loss of Wout van Aert.