The British Josh Tarling (INEOS) won the 2nd stage of the Tour d’Italie, a 13.7 km suspense time trial on Saturday in Tirana, where the Slovenian Primoz Roglic is already endorsing the leading pink jersey.
The 21-year-old Welshman, a specialist in the time, won with a second ahead of Roglic (Red Bull-Bora) and three on the Australian Jay Vine (UAE) to win the first victory of his career in a big round.
Roglic, the main favorite of the Giro, already takes control of the general classification, dethroning for a second the Danish Mads Pedersen, winner the day before.
The Slovenian has in particular 16 seconds ahead of its main rival, the Spaniard Juan Ayuso. Most of the other leaders conceded between 20 and 40 seconds, while Romain Bardet and David Gaudu conceded 52 and 55 seconds respectively.
Wout Van Aert, second the day before and who had an opportunity to target the pink jersey, missed his appointment, finishing at 39 seconds.
Tall template
Tarling now has eight success in his official track record, only time, an exercise in which the power of this large template (1.94 m) is fully expressed.
“I am so happy, the wait in the leader’s chair (from the time) was not nice. I don’t want to relive that. Primoz (Roglic) really scared me, it was very stressful, “he said.
The third hilly stage will always take place in Albania on Sunday in Vlora and still promises animation with 2,800 m of elevation gain over 160 km and an uphill collar at an altitude of crossing.
The runners will then reach Italy during the rest day on Monday for the rest of the Giro.
