'Bigger differences than Blockhaus' - Arensman, O'Connor, Gee-West reflect on decisive role of 42km Giro d'Italia time trial as hunt for maglia rosa evolves

Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos) dominated the 42km individual time trial on stage 10 of the 2026 Giro d’Italia, showcasing his prowess on the flat Tuscan coastal route from Viareggio to Massa. While Ganna’s victory was expected given his time trialling pedigree, the stage proved pivotal for the general classification (GC) contenders. Notably, Thymen Arensman (Netcompany Ineos), Derek Gee-West (Lidl-Trek), and Ben O’Connor (Jayco AlUla) all delivered strong performances that reshaped the battle for the maglia rosa, with significant time gaps opening up among the favourites. The time trial course, despite its flat profile, created larger time differences than anticipated, even surpassing those seen on the iconic Blockhaus climb. Ben O’Connor, who finished 11th and moved up to fifth overall, highlighted the importance of time trialling in the GC fight, emphasising how crucial it is for contenders to excel against the clock. O’Connor, drawing on his background in Australian time trials, expressed satisfaction with the stage, noting that the 42km distance suited his strengths and inflicted considerable pain, underlining the discipline’s demanding nature. Thymen Arensman’s near-perfect pacing earned him second place on the stage behind Ganna, propelling him into third in the overall standings. Arensman praised his team’s collective effort and the importance of maintaining focus and routine during time trials. Meanwhile, Derek Gee-West was the biggest beneficiary on the day, climbing six places to eighth overall after finishing fifth on the stage. Gee-West described the time trial as brutal and physically taxing, but was encouraged by his improving form and the time gained ahead of the challenging mountain stages still to come. Looking ahead, the Giro’s decisive moments remain in the high mountains, with key summit finishes scheduled on stages 14, 19, and 20. These climbs, including Pila, Alleghe, and Piancavallo, are expected to test the GC contenders’ climbing abilities and could further shake up the leaderboard. With Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) closing in on the leader Afonso Eulálio (Bahrain-Victorious) but still trailing by 27 seconds, the race for the maglia rosa remains wide open as the riders prepare for the gruelling final week.