Filippo Ganna was always likely to spend his afternoon at Desenzano del Garda in the hot seat. The only real question was whether his long vigil would end with a visit to the podium or a lonesome ride back to the Ineos hotel.
A week ago in Perugia, Ganna lost the Giro d’Italia’s first time trial on the stiff climb to the finish, but this time out, the Italian champion was on more amenable terrain. The flat final section of the course along the shore of Lake Garda was more suited to his gifts as a rouleur, while the finish area in Desenzano’s old port was dotted with friends, family and flags bearing the legend ‘Top Ganna.’
