"I'm just calm, there are 3 weeks ahead" - Tao Geoghegan Hart rides surprisingly strong time-trial but focuses on bigger picture

Tao Geoghegan Hart finished fourth in the opening time trial of the Giro d'Italia, 40 seconds behind Remco Evenepoel and 3 seconds better than Primoz Roglic. After the race he looked very calm, not giving too much importance to what happened on the first day day of the Giro d'Italia.

"It wasn't a bad performance, obviously a lot of big names had to come, but I'm happy with my performance. I'm happy with how I rode and with the time, no complaints at all," the Briton said. His expression was one of someone who was not too satisfied with his performance, but at the end of the day he was the third best-placed GC rider.

Because of the way he answered the questions, a journalist asked him if he was serious, if he was not happy: "No, nothing like that, I'm just calm, there are 3 weeks ahead, maybe you are excited, but we riders are calm, there are 8 days left until the rest day, I'm just focused on tomorrow's stage".

The INEOS Grenadiers rider was asked if it was a confirmation that he is in good shape, to which he replied somewhat reluctantly: "I don't know, maybe, it could be, it was a good time, what we expected, it was 20 minutes at high speed, I don't think it has anything to do with the days ahead".

This stage however proved to be a brilliant start for Hart who is a major contender for the podium, and perhaps victory if Remco Evenepoel is unable to keep up the pace that he sustained today throughout the three weeks. INEOS have seen Geraint Thomas ninth on the day, but both Pavel Sivakov and Thymen Arensman shed around 1:30 minutes to the first pink jersey of the race.

Finally, he was asked at the finish line how he felt about being the only Giro winner among the participants. He played it down: "It doesn't mean anything, there are great riders with great races, there is the world champion, there are many riders with top 10 in the Giro, for me it's an honor, but nothing more."