Filippo Ganna ditches his extreme time trial position to try to beat Evenepoel at the World Championships

Ganna last won the world road cycling championship in 2021, in Flanders. That was five years ago now, for a rider who for years was considered the greatest time trialist of all time. However, Ganna, now 30, has been consistently beaten by Evenepoel in recent years and didn’t even compete on a mountain stage in Rwanda last year.

With nearly 40 kilometers of flat racing against the clock in Montréal, Canada, Ganna is making his return—and he’s doing so with high hopes. “Remco is without a doubt the top favorite; recent history has certainly proven that. The last time I beat him was in the 2023 Vuelta a España, three years ago,” he began in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"If Remco is at 100 percent, it’ll be a tough challenge, especially if there are climbs along the way," Ganna continues. “However, the course in Montreal is mostly flat, with 220 meters of elevation gain over 39.2 kilometers. In that context, I should be able to close the gap. If he still wins, I’ll congratulate him, but maybe I’ll be faster.”

Ganna has staked everything on this World Championship, partly because there aren’t many time trials coming up that really suit him. “The time trial at the 2028 Olympic Games in LA includes a final climb of 5 kilometers at a 5 percent gradient. That’s where the difference will be greater. Right now, the final stretch is less demanding, with lots of wide roads. I feel comfortable, even in my extreme riding position. Although for the 45-minute race, I’ll mainly stick to the classic riding position.”

It says everything about Ganna, who lowered his handlebars even further, making his hip angle even more extreme. It’s doable, but not for three-quarters of an hour. “That’s why I went back to my old approach. If this time trial had been shorter, we might have used that extreme position,” said the Italian time trial champion, who’s set to tackle the big climb with a 64-tooth chainring and an 11x34 cassette.

Ganna vs. Evenepoel—it’s going to be a great battle. “The rivalry with Remco is great—it’s based on mutual respect. Neither of us tries to put the other down, even though we’re two very different athletes. I’m happy with who I am. In the Tour de France, I came close to victory twice, which makes me even more eager to win now.”