O Gran Camiño: Julius Johansen takes first pro victory in opening time trial for UAE Team Emirates-XRG

Julius Johansen of UAE Team Emirates-XRG claimed his first professional victory by winning the opening individual time trial of O Gran Camiño in A Coruña. The 14.8-kilometre course, which featured a hilly and fast urban route finishing near the historic Torre de Hércules lighthouse, saw Johansen deliver a dominant performance. Starting last, the 26-year-old Dane set the fastest times at all intermediate checkpoints and crossed the line 16 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Rafael Reis, a former teammate, with Movistar’s Nelson Oliveira completing the podium. The time trial unfolded with several notable performances, including a strong start from Spanish National Time Trial Champion Abel Balderstone and a breakthrough ride by Jørgen Nordhagen, who posted a competitive intermediate time. Adam Yates, Johansen’s teammate and one of the race favourites, showed promise on the challenging course, finishing in sixth place, 40 seconds behind the winner. Despite his efforts, Yates was unable to claim his first professional time trial win but remains well positioned for the overall classification. Johansen’s victory was not without its challenges, as he struggled with a potentially miscalibrated power meter that showed inconsistent output during the ride. Nevertheless, he maintained a strong pace, relying on team communications to gauge his performance. Reflecting on his win, Johansen expressed pride and surprise, highlighting the tough conditions and strong competition he faced, particularly from Reis, whom he knows well from their time as teammates. This triumph marks the 19th win of the season for UAE Team Emirates-XRG and sets a positive tone for the remainder of the five-day event. Johansen will lead the general classification into stage two, while Yates remains a key contender. The result underlines the depth of talent within the team and adds intrigue to the ongoing battle for overall honours at O Gran Camiño.