Filippo Ganna

Filippo Ganna (nickname Pippo Ganna) is an Italian cyclist who has become one of the most dominant riders of his generation in both track and road racing. Known for his towering presence, smooth pedal stroke and world-class power, Ganna is a double time trial world champion, Olympic gold medalist, multiple Giro d’Italia stage winner and former Hour Record holder. As a key rider for INEOS Grenadiers, he combines individual brilliance against the clock with team-first mentality across Grand Tours and classics.

Ganna was born in 1996 in Verbania, a town in northern Italy near Lake Maggiore. He grew up in a sporting family. His father, Marco, was an Olympic canoeist. Filippo began cycling with a local club and quickly showed potential, particularly in time trials. His tall frame and natural strength made him stand out among junior riders. While many young Italians focused on climbing, Ganna found his edge in the discipline of precision and pacing. He joined Team Colpack as an amateur and gained experience on both road and track, laying the foundation for a career that would span both disciplines with equal success.

Ganna rose to global prominence on the velodrome. In the individual pursuit, he became virtually unbeatable. He won the world title in 2016 at age 19, then again in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023. His pursuit riding was built on patience and power. He often started slower than his rivals but finished with devastating negative splits. In team pursuit, he helped Italy reach new heights. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021, he led Italy to gold in a thrilling final against Denmark. The team set a world record, and Ganna’s final turn on the front was a defining moment. His six world titles in the individual pursuit are a modern record, and his Olympic success confirmed his place among the greatest track riders of his era.

On the road, Ganna became the benchmark in time trials. He won the elite men’s time trial world championships in 2020 and 2021, becoming the first Italian to claim the rainbow jersey in that event. In both victories, he dominated rivals with sustained high-speed efforts, using his experience on the track and his aerodynamic position to perfection. At the Giro d’Italia, he was a fan favourite and a consistent winner. In 2020, he took four stage wins, including three time trials and a solo road stage. He opened and closed the race with wins. In 2021, he repeated the feat by winning both the opening and final stages against the clock. By 2023, he had won six Giro stages and one at the Vuelta a España, extending his Grand Tour stage win tally to seven. He also finished second in the Olympic time trial in Paris 2024, narrowly beaten by Remco Evenepoel.

Since joining INEOS Grenadiers in 2019, Ganna has become one of the team’s most trusted riders. Beyond time trial victories, he plays a vital role as a domestique in Grand Tours. His ability to control flat stages, pace the peloton and close down breakaways is unmatched. He was a key teammate during Egan Bernal’s Giro win in 2021 and has served riders like Geraint Thomas and Carlos Rodríguez in the Tour de France. In mountain stages, he rides tempo for long stretches, helping position team leaders ahead of climbs. Though there was early speculation about Ganna becoming a general classification contender, he has dismissed those ambitions. He prefers to focus on time trials, classics and support work, rather than sacrificing his power to become a climber.

Ganna has gradually targeted one-day races, especially those that suit powerful riders. In 2023, he finished second in Milan–San Remo, attacking on the Poggio and chasing Mathieu van der Poel all the way to the line. It was a breakthrough performance that showed he could compete for victory in Monuments. He has also made Paris–Roubaix a long-term goal. Having won the U23 edition in 2016, he dreams of lifting the elite cobblestone trophy. In 2024, he finished sixth at Roubaix and plans to return stronger. His combination of track handling, power and patience makes him a strong candidate for a Monument in the years to come.

At 1.93 meters tall and weighing around 83 kilos, Ganna is one of the biggest riders in the peloton. His position on the bike is a result of meticulous refinement. He maintains low aerodynamic drag despite his size, and his cadence remains smooth even at high speeds. On the track, he is methodical and strategic. On the road, he is calm, focused and rarely makes errors. His descending is confident, his bike handling is clean, and he can hold enormous power on flat terrain. While steep climbs are not his specialty, he manages longer draggy efforts at a steady pace.

Ganna is known for being humble, lighthearted and deeply connected to his roots. He lives in Ascona, Switzerland, and frequently returns to Verbania to visit family. He enjoys cooking, LEGO, video games and cycling history. He is engaged to Carlotta Morino, and the couple often appear together at races and events. Teammates describe him as a calming presence who brings humor to tense situations. Though he shies away from the spotlight, he understands his role as an ambassador for Italian cycling and embraces it with pride.

• 6x world champion in individual pursuit
• Olympic gold medalist in team pursuit (2021)
• Double time trial world champion (2020, 2021)
• UCI Hour Record holder (56.792 km)
• 7 Grand Tour stage wins (6 Giro, 1 Vuelta)

Looking ahead, Ganna aims to win a Monument - with Paris–Roubaix as his biggest target. He also wants to take a stage win at the Tour de France, the only Grand Tour where he has yet to triumph. With his contract at INEOS Grenadiers running through 2027, he will continue to be a central figure in the team’s classics and stage race plans. While he may return to the track for selected championships or the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, his focus will remain on the road in the coming seasons.