"I could come quite close" - Filippo Ganna sees a way he can upset the odds and deny Remco Evenepoel in World Championships time trial
CyclingSaturday, 19 September 2026 at 15:57
Filippo Ganna may admit that his 'beautiful' rivalry with Remco Evenepoel brings out the best in both riders, but it's a rivalry nonetheless. Make no mistake, the Italian rider has his sights set on denying Evenepoel a fourth World Championships time trial win in a row.
The Belgian is the hot favourite for Sunday's time trial and has dominated the discipline in recent years. Before the Belgian's rise to prominence, it was Ganna who ruled the roost in the race against the clock.
The pair's first notable collision came in 2019 when the Belgian finished second place at the World Championships behind Rohan Dennis, with Ganna in third that year. The INEOS powerhouse would go on and win the 2020 and 2021 rainbow jerseys as he led the way.
However, Evenepoel has closed the gap as he continued his development from teenage wonderkid to an experienced team leader now in the prime of his career. Pointing to Evenepoel being the favourite and the world's best right now, Ganna admitted that he hasn't bested him in three years.
Filippo Ganna, a powerhouse against the clock
Ganna on his Evenepoel rivalry
“Without a doubt. Recent history proves it. The last time I beat him in a time trial was in the 2023 Vuelta. That was three years ago,” said Ganna in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
However, Ganna believes that the Montreal course could well favour him, claiming that the largely flat parcours can help him at least come close, but not going as far as to suggest he is a favourite to win.
“The route in Montreal is largely flat with 220 meters of elevation gain over 39.2 kilometers, although the road does climb a bit towards the end. In those conditions, I could come quite close.”
Can the INEOS rider rival Evenepoel at the World Championships?
Noting their rivalry, Ganna has gotten a sneak peak at Evenepoel and Belgium's preparations, but ultimately points to their mutual respect as the core of their rivalry.
“Sometimes I saw him leaving for his training out the window. We didn't stay in the same hotel; I think his was much more expensive.
“I think it is a beautiful rivalry. There is mutual respect. No one tries to bring the other down. We are two different athletes with different qualities, but we are both strong in the time trial."
He has fond memories of his 2021 Belgian triumph at the World Championships: “That remains a wonderful memory,” the 30-year-old added. However, a six second loss to Evenepoel at the Zurich World Championships two years ago still stings: “I lost by six seconds after 46 kilometers. That hurt."
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- so maybe before looking at someone and criticizing them based on looks alone, do some research and understand the human. She was considered a favorite for wakeboarding in the X games. She was a high school athlete, not necessarily a stand out, but she was considered athletic. early in her time in hollywood she also fought MMA, winning events, and even beat mean. I am not an MMA fan, but it is a tough sport. you don’t compete in this and win, and not be athletic.mij19-09-2026
- if it was written about the UK, I would still question it. if you are showing 14 rankings, and someone is at 10, then how is that a powerhouse? granted there are 80 or so countries on the planet. so 10/80 is really good. but most of the other countries don’t field a team. so I again question how 10/14 makes them a “powerhouse”mij19-09-2026
- did you see my other post? does anyone that looks at this video, and formed an opinion on looks alone realize: 1 - she was an athlete. she was considered a front runner for the wakeboard in the X games. wakeboarding is super tough actually, takes a lot of athleticism. 2 - she gave it up to become an actress, an award winning actress. you do not get that on looks alone. hollywood is littered with beautiful failures. she gave up being perhaps tops in one area to rise to the top of another. 3 - she was valedictorian of her high school class, #1. she taught herself russian, was on the math and robotics club. 4 - she wanted to be an actress by the age of 13. how many 13 year olds have accomplished their life long goal, with such success? you don’t do that with looks alone. 5 - she is worth $50 million. again, the internet is filled with more beautiful people that are worth $50. you don’t get to be worth this kinda money being stupid, or on looks alone. I have never seen a sydney sweeney movie or tv show. I am not a super fan of her. but, before posting something critical, and making that post based on LOOKS ALONE IN A VIDEO - I do some research. as for Demi, she uses her body to make money. and says women should be empowered and be seen as more than just a hottie. well if Sydney was ugly and did 1 - 5 above, what would Demi write about her??? she would be a hero. her comment is ignorant and pugnacious. Sydney can’t help she looks the way she does. if we are not supposed to hold someone’s looks against them based on skin color, “ugliness”, weight (lol PFP), etc, why is she doing so because she is beautiful???mij19-09-2026
- exactly, looks are not a talent. if they were all of the women you mentioned would be more accomplished that Sydney. and again, you are judging her on looks alone. so progressive of you. maybe do some research on someone before you form an opinion just by looking at them.mij19-09-2026
- I disagree with your opinion you cannot prevent objectification and almost every study and experiment goes in the same sense. The less you are exposed to a certain type of behaviour the less you will imitate it. If advertising, media, pop stars, hollywood, celebrities , heroes, politicians, leaders, etc. adopt certain behaviour and not others, a large portion of the population tends to be influenced in a similar direction. Very few people continuously fight against the current. Every time you show something borderline or controversial is ok or « normal » you normalise it. 30 years ago, people would have been shocked to hear some of the language used by all these people today, now it’s mostly just annoying, and only for older generations, nobody even pays attention to avoid it in front of small kids. Today it’s any tiktok challenge that turns viral 20y ago it was thongs sticking out of jeans, now in many places its preteens are tanning themselves with strings at the pool and beach and nobody blinks an eye except the guy in the bushes with glasses and trenchcoat. 60 years ago, it was how (mostly) women dressed. 150 years ago it was slavery We are all influenced by what we are shownJumpyjohn19-09-2026
- you are aware of her intellectual capabilities? you look at her and assume because of her looks she isn’t smart??? wow, that is really prejudicial of you. there are hot women all over the internet worth about $50. She is worth $50 million. You don’t become worth $50 million with a nice body alone. Are you aware she graduated # 1 in her high school class, valedictorian? but you call her not smart. She was on the math club, robotics club, and taught herself Russian as she wanted to learn another language. she has won acting awards; you don’t get to be a good actor by being stupid. as for the athletic comments people have made about her, she was considered a candidate for the X games in wakeboarding. That takes a tremendous amount of skill. WTF have you done with your life? Where did you graduate in high school? what are you known for besides being a troll on a cycling site lol. it isn’t that I’m in the Sydney Sweeney fan club. I’ve never seen her perform. It is just amazing to me that a beautiful young lady, that is smart, accomplished, wealthy and frankly hasn’t done anything wrong is told by ladies that preach empowerment that she is not empowered to legally make money with her body. even though let’s be honest, the only reason Demi makes money, is because she has a body that allows her to do so.mij19-09-2026
- I’m sure Jurgen is loving this article. PL doesn’t even stop with riders.mij19-09-2026
- yeah I was waiting to see what was going to happen. allegedly at the time Remco and his camp was very against the merger.mij19-09-2026
- I think you’re mixing up things which aren’t really relatedJumpyjohn19-09-2026
- I agree with some of what you say, but Demi isn't grandstanding against curves, she's speaking out for all the sportswomen who have worked so hard to raise the bar and have women's sport taken seriously. Whether she should bother to do so in the face of Sweeney's wealth and influence is up for debate. In the case of PFP, if PFP was thin because she was ill then everyone would have pitied her; but she was showing girls that swiftly losing weight can help you achieve your goals and have millions of fans. That's what Demi was concerned about. Young girls who try what PFP did might not be able to flip back to normal eating and weight again.Hills3319-09-2026
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