Juan Ayuso gets a head start in Tirreno-Adriatico GC thanks to a great time trial: "The goal is to stay at the front and try to gain more time"

Juan Ayuso rode a strong opening Tirreno-Adriatico time trial, but there was nothing that could have been done about Filippo Ganna who stormed through the streets of Lido di Camaiore. The UAE Team Emirates - XRG rider was 23 seconds slower than the former world champion, but he gained time on the remaining GC contenders.

"I think I rode a good time trial, especially with the general classification in mind," Ayuso said on his team’s website afterwards. "I lacked some power on the last straight, after the corner. I didn’t have the right feeling, but Ganna did a great time trial. I have to congratulate him."

"The coming days the goal is to stay at the front and try to gain more time. The coming stages it seems to be raining a bit, so every day is important. And then of course there are a few very important hilly days, which we will fully focus on," the 22-year-old Ayuso looks ahead.

Antonio Tiberi came closest to Ayuso at +6 seconds with Derek Gee (+11) and teammate Isaac del Toro (+15) also within 20 seconds of the Spaniard. Leaders of Team Visma | Lease a Bike were merely limting the damage as Simon Yates was 32 seconds slower than Ayuso and Cian Uijtdebroeks was further 18 seconds down the result sheet.