The Giro d’Italia’s second stage was a nail-biter, with Joshua Tarling dominating the 12.7km time trial in Tirana, Albania.
Tarling Sets the Bar High
Tarling, riding for INEOS Grenadiers, clocked an impressive time of 16 minutes and 1 second, averaging 31.9km/h and reaching a maximum speed of 44.1km/h.
His average power output was 530w, peaking at 620w.
This outstanding performance earned him the top spot, leaving other competitors in his wake.
- Time: 16’01”
- Avg speed: 31.9km/h
- Max speed: 44.1km/h
- Avg power: 530w
- Max power: 620w
A New Record in the Making
At 21 years and 84 days old, Tarling broke Romeo Venturelli’s 65-year-old record for the youngest winner of a Giro d’Italia time trial stage.
Venturelli achieved this feat in 1960 at 21 years and 163 days.
Tarling’s victory marked a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his exceptional time-trialing skills.
Other Riders Struggle to Keep Up
Primoz Roglic put up a strong fight but fell just one second short of Tarling’s time.
Despite not taking the stage win,
Roglic managed to snatch the pink jersey from Mads Pedersen by three seconds,
while Ayuso trailed behind by 16 seconds.
Wout van Aert, a favorite to dethrone Tarling, fared worse, finishing 49 seconds behind.
Not all riders had a smooth ride.
Australian champion Luke Plapp crashed during the time trial but still managed to complete the course.
A photographer captured the dramatic moment, stopping to take a photo after Plapp’s fall.