Pogacar powers up

TADEJ Pogacar won the stage seven time trial to strengthen his grip on the pink jersey at the Giro d’italia as Geraint Thomas slipped to third overall.

Pogacar powered up the six-and-a-half kilometre climb to the finish of the 40.6km stage in Perugia to take a victory that underlines his status as the clear favourite to be celebrating in Rome in two weeks’ time.

The Slovenian cyclist was 47 seconds down on the time of Filippo Ganna at the foot of the climb, but made up one minute and four seconds on the way up to the line for his second stage win of the week.

Thomas had started the day second overall – 46 seconds down – but lost two minutes to Pogacar on the day and dropped to third.