PRIMOZ ROGLIC

emerged as the favourite for the Giro d’Italia title after the Slovenian won the ninth stage yesterday. Italian Valerio Conti retained the overall leader’s pink jersey after finishing 3min 34secs behind Roglic, who took the time trial in 51 minutes 52 seconds. Briton Simon Yates — who was strong in the first time trial — lost 3:11 to Roglic. Conti is 1:50 ahead of Roglic, who leads two-time winner Vincenzo Nibali by 1:44.