Filippo Ganna sacrifices everything to succeed at Classics this spring: "He's leaving aside track as well as the Giro..."
Cycling
Not strong enough to really compete for the victory at Milano-Sanremo, but Filippo Ganna nevertheless showed tremendous willpower as well as quality to finish on the final podium, just behind Mathieu van der Poel. Maybe in his best shape ever, the Italian dreams of one big Classics victory this spring.
"No, Ganna is not a sand-spreader or a complainer. Tirreno really took its toll on him," says Gazzetta journalist Ciro Scognamiglio. "Ganna rode a great Tirreno, finishing 2nd behind Ayuso. He had no regrets about those efforts. But it did leave him feeling tired."
So far we have seen a strong Ganna, even on his worse days. That can be accounted to a good off-season. "Unlike last year, he was not struck down by flu and other germs this winter. In addition, Ganna is leaving the track (his great love) a bit to the side this year. He still trains on the track sometimes, but is skipping the World Track Cycling Championships in mid-October."
And Ganna will not be admired at the Giro d'Italia either. "The first part of the season is purely about the classics. Then follows a break and the Tour, where he will help the team and wants to go on a stage hunt."
"Milano-Sanremo was his first goal this spring. Paris-Roubaix is that other big goal. Although it will be difficult to beat Van der Poel there," Scognamiglio realizes. For what it's worth, Ganna at least knows how to win in Roubaix from 2016, when won the variant for promises. "Ganna did win the U23 version of Paris-Roubaix and finished 6th among the pros two years ago. But Van der Poel obviously has many more credentials at the Hell of North."
Finally, the weather will play a crucial role for Ganna in Roubaix. Unlike Van der Poel or Van Aert, the Italian prefers to ride on dry conditions. "He likes to race in good weather. In the rain, Van der Poel has an extra advantage with his cyclocross skills."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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