Ethan Hayter takes confidence from strong Giro time trial as Soudal - Quick-Step bounce back after Landa crash: “Me and the boys are ready to give our best”

The 2025 Giro d’Italia continued on Saturday with a 13.7km individual time trial in Tirana, Albania, and it proved a much-needed boost for Soudal – Quick-Step after a bruising opening day. British rider Ethan Hayter delivered a strong performance to finish ninth on the stage, offering a positive note for the team following Mikel Landa’s race-ending crash on the opening day.

The stage was won by Josh Tarling, who surged to his first ever grand tour stage win. Primoz Roglic also impressed, finishing high enough to take over the overall lead and don the maglia rosa. But it was Hayter who briefly stole the spotlight early in the day. The former British champion set the fastest times at both the intermediate checkpoint and the finish, spending a long spell in the hot seat before faster riders, including stage winner Tarling, surpassed his mark.

Speaking in a team press release after the stage, Hayter said, “I can be content with my effort. Top ten on the second stage of my second Grand Tour is a good result and it gives me a lot of confidence for the next three weeks. We’ll see what we can do, but me and the boys are ready to give our best.”

It was a welcome result for Soudal – Quick-Step following the devastation of Stage 1. On Friday, the team’s GC leader Mikel Landa crashed heavily just 5 kilometres from the finish line and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Scans later revealed a fractured vertebra, ruling the Spaniard out of the Giro, and potentially the rest of the season.

With their Grand Tour ambitions reshaped just one day into the race, Hayter’s performance offered some relief and momentum for the team. As the Giro continues to unfold, the British rider’s top-ten finish signals he could play a valuable role over the next three weeks.