The Italian time trial sensation Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) used the aftermarket Classified Powershift two-speed rear hub system on his time trial bike at the Giro d'Italia, Cyclingnews can reveal.
The thru-axle of the Classified system is unique and a good amount bigger than a traditional thru-axle quick-release handle. Having spotted it on the TV cameras, Cyclingnews reached out to the Ineos team, who confirmed our belief.
Often dubbed the 'front derailleur killer', the Classified Powershift offers a two-speed internal gear system, which can then work with traditional derailleurs and shifters.
The claimed benefits of this relate to aerodynamics and weight. The removal of a front derailleur and double chainset can reduce the bike's drag, while Classified says the added weight of its system is low enough that it results in a lower overall net weight.
The brand also claims that the more central position of a single chainring, reduces the severity of cross chaining, which in turn offers slightly reduced friction. There are also benefits in shift performance, in that shifting from the big chainring to the small chainring is immediate.
The 40.6km course from Foligno to Perugia was a race of two halves. The first 33km were largely flat, but from this point on, when the riders hit Ponte San Giovanni, the road pointed up with gradients peaking at 16%.
To take advantage of the weight and aerodynamic savings, many teams turned to a 1x groupset in recent years, especially for flatter races and in time trials. This is often paired with an enormous chainring to benefit from reduced articulation. However, with the steep climb at the end of today's time trial, Ganna needed a smaller gear to be able to turn the pedals on the 16% ramps – though it didn't prove enough to outpace Tadej Pogacar who won the stage.
Ineos has also confirmed that the hub is fitted to a Princeton Carbonworks wheel.
"I’m not sure what was on the bike," said Ineos Grenadiers Sport Director Zak Dempster. "We just pick up whatever is lying around the truck. It’s not at all a well-thought-out plan that’s been in place for six months."
He clarified that the team were pleased with the technical offering. "I don’t think the guys were left wanting at all with the material setup."
Geraint Thomas spoke more assertively about the Classified system, which he also used. "It worked really well," he told Cyclingnews. "No issues with that."
Magnus Sheffield was also understood to have used the Classified shifting system, representing an uptake across a top WorldTour not seen before with the innovative planetary gear system.
It remains to be seen whether it will make its way beyond the confines of the already highly technically specialist world of time trial, though.
