Filippo Ganna has achieved the first objective of his Giro d'Italia by dominating the Versilia time trial, living up to expectations and opening up a genuine chasm between himself and his competitors.

These are Ganna's first statements: "I think we did extraordinary work this winter, especially with the general classification riders. Arensman also did extraordinary work too, teamwork, and I think we got a nice victory today as well. Hopefully we can celebrate a bit this evening and then we get back to focusing on the rest of the Giro. It's definitely beautiful what we did today, especially with a long time trial like this one that I really liked. I'm really happy to have finally found a course suited to me too, without the usual climbs. Let's say that from today another Giro started for Filippo and now we're trying to get another stage victory maybe on home roads".

And further: "We worked well with the team, we still have something to improve in the position, let's say we still have an ace up our sleeve for the end of the season".

THE PRESS CONFERENCE. Filippo, how did it go?
"It was a very long time trial. I suffered, because 45 minutes aren't easy to manage. I had a pace to maintain, I only lost 10 seconds on 45 minutes, so I think we maintained it very well. We still have some improvements to make on the bike, but there wasn't much time to use the time trial bike after the classics, so we preferred not to take risks".

The gaps were very significant: your teammate Arensman second at 1'54", French rider Cavagna third at 1'59", Vingegaard 13th at 3'.
"I only look at myself, not at others".

You're back at the Giro after two years: what's it like racing in Italy?
"It's always special for me. Hearing the crowd, feeling the people who are still here waiting for me an hour after the time trial ended, that feels great. I'm sorry I can't reach everyone, because the schedules are tight, we also need to get to the hotel as soon as possible, get massages and go to bed as early as possible. This morning I won't hide it, I was already awake at 5, a bit of adrenaline, a bit of tension was there, but in the end the day went well".

How much did the effort from the other day in the breakaway with Bettiol help you? You were in the wind a lot.
"Well, I think the effort from the other day was just an effort for the sake of effort. Then yes, before finishing the Giro I'd like to try for another stage, I won't deny that obviously the stage at my home in Verbania (Friday) is tempting, it will depend on whether the group sends me in a breakaway and then catches me or if we'll be a group that goes to the finish".

Was this your best time trial of your career? And what gear ratio did you use?
"My best time trial is still to come. As for the gear ratio used, it was 64, single chainring".

How does your legitimate ambition to win another stage and have a certain freedom fit with team logic? There's Arensman who is third in the standings.
"When there are stages more suited to him, I'll be willing to work. We're eight riders and when I have a free hand to try my cards and play my results I will. At the 2020 Giro, Tao (Geoghegan Hart, who won, ed.) and I brought home many victories and the classification. Let's say that on stages over 4000 meters of elevation gain I'm somewhat useless on the climbs, there will be teammates who can give him much more support than me".

You've won 7 time trials at the Giro like Merckx, ahead there's only Moser with 12. Can you reach him? And how much weight does the track have in this victory?
"As for Moser, I think for now he maintains the record. If I manage to bring home another victory at the end of the Giro, I think I'll be more than satisfied, indeed very satisfied. The track, last time, I was there before the classics and it definitely helped me a lot. Lately I've been more focused on recovering physical and mental energy, those were the things that, after a long period away from home, I was missing. Now with this Giro and then very probably also the Tour, it will be another nice period away from home. So it will be right to understand when it's time to ease off a bit and be with family, my girlfriend, and when it's time to push harder on the accelerator".

What did you use in the time trial for hydration? Just water or also carbohydrates?
"In my water bottle I had 80 grams of carbs, but I didn't touch the bottle. Before the start I had put a gel in the front of my body suit, but they told me I couldn't bring it, so I took it at the start and off I went".