Pogacar takes time trial to strengthen his lead

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 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 to take 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, 10 seconds behind his former team-mate Dani Martinez who moved up one place to second, sitting two minutes and 36 seconds off pink.

Thomas said: “I just tried to ride within myself and then when it was time to go, I felt OK but just lacked a bit. I couldn’t get right on top of it over those kickers. It is what it is, just one of those days.”

Pogacar was competing on his time trial bike for the first time since the world championships in Glasgow last August and said he had taken it slowly over the first half of the race, conceding a considerable amount of time to Ganna, confident he could make it up later. “It was a lot of preparation for this and a lot of ups and downs since last year, but I’m super happy today,” Pogacar said. “I felt good. I started with a bit of an easier pace to get used to the TT bike and paced myself to the climb.

“Then the climb was full gas and I’m super happy with today’s day on the bike.”

Tadej Pogacar celebrates stage seven victory.