PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) – Italian Filippo Ganna received the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday, a 15.1-km particular person time trial between Monreale and Palermo to assert the primary Maglia Rosa chief’s jersey of this 12 months’s race as Geraint Thomas opened an early hole on his rivals.

The Ineos-Grenadiers rider, who claimed the time trial title on the world championships final week, clocked 15 minutes 24 seconds to beat Portugal’s Joao Almeida by an enormous 22 seconds.

“At the moment I knew I used to be one of many scorching favourites however I attempted to remain calm,” stated Ganna.

“We did it, what a terrific consequence and what a thrill to put on the Maglia Rosa on my first Giro, which is an efficient omen for the remainder of the race.”

Briton Thomas, additionally from Ineos-Grenadiers, was the perfect of the pre-race favourites when he took fourth place in 15:47, together with his compatriot Simon Yates shedding 26 seconds to the 2018 Tour de France champion.

“It was windy however I feel I used to be comfy on the bike. Perhaps I used to be just a bit too aggressive at the beginning and within the final two kilometres I misplaced the legs slightly bit,” stated Thomas.

“Perhaps just a bit an excessive amount of within the first half however we will nonetheless be fairly blissful.”

Two-time champion and residential favorite Vincenzo Nibali had a disappointing experience, ending 1:06 behind Thomas, with Dane Jakob Fuglsang and Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk additionally shedding valuable time – down 1:24 and 1:21 on the chief, respectively.

Fuglsang’s Astana crew mate and co-leader Aleksandr Vlasov of Russia misplaced 57 seconds to Thomas.

Astana, nonetheless, misplaced key climber Miguel Angel Lopez, sixth total within the Tour de France, who was taken into an ambulance after crashing closely when he hit a bump on the street.

“Miguel Angel has been taken to hospital for additional statement,” Astana stated on Twitter.

The Giro was rescheduled from its authentic Might 9-31 dates with the beginning being moved from Hungary to Sicily amid the COVID-19 disaster.

(Writing by Julien Pretot; enhancing by Hugh Lawson and Ian Chadband)