Eddie Dunbar has made a solid start to Giro d'Italia 2023 as he bids to put together a general classification performance and hopefully finish in the top 10 by the time race finishes in three weeks time.
However, while Team Jayco AlUla's Dunbar placed a respectable 24th, one the hottest favourites for overall victory Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) demolished the opposition to win the 19.6km TT into Ortona and take the first maglia rosa of the race.
Evenepoel, who was untouchable at the recent Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1.UWT), was head and shoulders above his rivals today. He put all of 46 seconds into his main rival for overall victory, Olympic TT champion Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), who placed a somewhat disappointing 6th today.
One can only hope Roglič - who has not raced since winning Volta Ciclista a Catalunya in late March - was slightly under par today and needs a few racing days to blow out the cobwebs. If that is the case, Roglič can get better and put it up to Evenepoel. If not, the young Belgian may be the dominant force though this Grand Tour with no genuine challenge to speak of, which would be disappointing.
Advertisement
Today, Evenepoel won the stage by 22 seconds from Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), with GC contender João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) in 3rd at 29 seconds, a very strong ride by the 24-year-old from Portugal.
Related News
Giro winner from two years ago - and recent Tour of the Alps stage and overall victor - Tao Geoghegan Hart (Ineos Grenadiers) was 4th at 40 seconds; again, a very strong start by the Brit. He was followed by Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) - 5th at 43 seconds - with Roglič 6th on the same time.
Aside from Eddie Dunbar - who is leading the GC assault for Team Jayco AlUla on this race - Ireland's Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) was making his Grand Tour debut today. Healy has enjoyed an incredible run of late that included 2nd in Amstel Gold Race, 4th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and two wins earlier in the season. But he made a modest start to the race today.
The 22-year-old, who is aiming for a stage win at the Giro, but is good enough to do a GC ride, placed 49th at 1:45. That time loss - especially by a rider who is very good against the watch - was bigger than expected. However, it means he will get some leeway to go in the breakaways in the days ahead.
Tomorrow's stage 2 is 202km from Teramo to San Salvo and should be one for the sprinters.
