"We lost control of the situation" - Filippo Ganna in total surprise to win Tour de Wallonie bunch sprint

Filippo Ganna has been showing his pure power this season and a clear evolution in the classics too, his transition became clear yesterday as he won a bunch sprint at the Tour de Wallonie to the surprise of many including himself.

"Elia [Viviani] was the choice for today, but 300 meters from the finish we lost control of the situation," Ganna said in a post-race interview in the Belgian race. "So, 200 meters from the finish, I said to myself 'I'll try to do my sprint and, if he's at my wheel, he will certainly be able to jump me'. Sure enough that was the idea, but the Italian himself had the power to outsprint the rest of the competition.

With Viviani not being able to contest big sprints this season, INEOS did not sacrifice the former time-trial World Champion. Ganna, a close friend of Viviani, had intentions of leading him out for victory, but entering the final straight in front and without having to have conducted a leadout, he had the legs to put out a very powerful sprint, beating Davide Ballerini and Arne Marit to the line.

"The performance of the whole team was extraordinary today, we started working very early as a group and the team worked very well to get the win," he concluded. This victory further cements Ganna's spot as the man to beat in Wallonie, as the 32-kilometer time-trial will be ideal for him and in the run-up for the World Championships.