'I'm expecting to lose time on my opponents' – Felix Gall braces himself for Giro d'Italia time trial despite dropping everyone except Vingegaard with bold attack on stage 9

Felix Gall demonstrated his climbing prowess once again on stage 9 of the Giro d’Italia, launching a decisive attack on the summit finish at Corno alle Scale that only race leader Jonas Vingegaard could follow. Gall’s bold move, supported by his Decathlon CMA CGM teammates who controlled the race for much of the day, allowed him to distance all other general classification rivals and solidify his position as the second strongest climber in the race. Despite being overtaken by Vingegaard near the finish, Gall gained valuable time on key contenders such as Jai Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari, moving into a comfortable third place overall ahead of the second rest day. The Austrian rider acknowledged that the steep climb felt tougher than expected, prompting his late attack to ensure a hard finale for the group. Gall praised his team’s efforts throughout the stage and expressed satisfaction with his performance, though he remains realistic about the challenges ahead. With a 1 minute 33 second lead over Hindley and a significant gap to other podium hopefuls, Gall is well positioned but aware that the upcoming 42km individual time trial on stage 10 will be his biggest test. The flat course does not suit his strengths, and he anticipates losing time to riders like Vingegaard and Thymen Arensman, despite recent improvements in his time-trialling ability. Decathlon CMA CGM’s strategy on stage 9 was meticulously executed, with domestiques Tord Gudmenstad and Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen setting a relentless pace that wore down rivals and isolated Pellizzari, one of Gall’s main threats. Team director Luke Roberts highlighted that their plan was to force a hard race among the general classification contenders, ensuring the final climb would be decisive. Although Vingegaard ultimately took the stage win, Roberts was encouraged by Gall’s proximity to the Danish leader and the time gained over other contenders, reinforcing the team’s confidence in their podium ambitions. Looking ahead, Roberts tempered expectations for the time trial but remains optimistic about Gall’s prospects in the latter stages of the Giro. He noted that Gall traditionally finds his best form in the third week of Grand Tours, suggesting the Austrian could regain time lost against stronger time-triallists. The team plans to approach each day strategically, capitalising on stages that suit Gall’s climbing strengths while managing losses on less favourable terrain. With the race still wide open behind Vingegaard, Gall and Decathlon CMA CGM are poised to continue their aggressive pursuit of a top-three finish in the Corsa Rosa.