Giro time trial’s biggest winner Arensman reveals key to his success

Ganna, the overwhelming favourite before the stage, lived up to that status with a blistering time of 45:53, averaging 54.9km/h on the course to Massa. It was enough to secure his eighth Giro d’Italia stage victory, seven of which have now come in time trials.

Netcompany Ineos made it a one-two on the day, with Arensman finishing second, 1:54 behind Ganna and five seconds ahead of Rémi Cavagna in third. 

More importantly for the Dutchman, it was a ride that also reshaped the general classification. Arensman moved up to third overall, behind race leader Afonso Eulálio and Jonas Vingegaard, who reduced his deficit to the maglia rosa but was unable to take pink.

Arensman did not speak at length immediately after the finish, but later reflected on his performance through his team.

“It was obviously pretty hard,” he said. “It was quite a long time trial, but I think I paced it quite well. I listened to my feeling and to my legs. I can be happy with my performance. I think I did everything I had to do, so yes, I can simply be happy.”

For Netcompany Ineos, it was a day that went almost perfectly. Ganna took the victory, Arensman climbed onto the stage podium and the team underlined its strength in a discipline where it has clearly made progress.

“It is also really nice to take a one two with the team,” Arensman said. “It will be nice to drink some champagne after Pippo’s win. The team as a whole did a really good job. It was great that we only had to focus on our performance. Everything else was taken care of by the staff. It was a pretty good day, and one I can look back on with pride.”

Asked about his pacing plan, Arensman kept the explanation simple.

“I basically just wanted to get from A to B as fast as possible,” he said with a smile. “I have a few routines on a time trial day and I just tried to stick to them. Then you have to trust yourself, so you can get the best out of your body. In the end that worked, and that makes me happy.”

A major factor behind Arensman’s performance appears to be the work done over the winter. The Dutchman and his team have spent months refining his time trial setup, with a key change coming as far back as November.

“That actually started in November last year, when we changed my time trial position,” Arensman explained. “That has turned out to be very effective. I think the team has really taken a step forward in time trialling. They really listen to the riders’ feedback here. We work together, staff and riders, and it is really nice to see that paying off.”

The result was particularly significant because Arensman was not merely strong among the general classification riders. He was the closest rider to Ganna on the day, even if the gap to his Italian teammate still showed just how far ahead the stage winner was.

“Filippo is just unbelievable,” Arensman said. “I finished second, but still two minutes behind. And I dare to say that I rode a good time trial and that I am not a bad time triallist. So two minutes is a lot. That shows how good he is as a time triallist. Everyone already knows that, of course, but to still deliver like that… chapeau. Also the way he approaches a time trial, with a certain calmness. I have a lot of respect for that.”