"We want to return to being the number one team in the world" - Filippo Ganna continues INEOS' impressive start to 2025 with 2nd on GC at Tirreno-Adriatico

After having repeatedly showcased his talents as a time trialist and even a sprinter in recent years, Filippo Ganna gave the cycling world a view at his climbing legs during Tirreno-Adriatico 2025, outperforming a number of supposedly stronger climbers to eventually finish 2nd on GC behind Juan Ayuso.

"It was a fantastic Tirreno for me, everything went well," assesses the Italian powerhouse happily in his post-stage interview afterwards, having moved above Antonio Tiberi to 2nd overall on the final stage, just 35 seconds down on Ayuso. "We arrived in the best condition, we worked well this winter. We did everything to the best to arrive this spring with the best legs."

As touched upon there by Ganna, with more than just a successful Tirreno-Adriatico in mind, the signs are good for the INEOS Grenadiers star for the upcoming Classics. "I am happy, this week we have to recover well and be careful of everything, of every ailment, to arrive at Milano-Sanremo in the best possible conditions. We will then see if we arrive in Via Roma well or badly," he explains.

Thanks to this showing from Ganna in Italy, plus a stage win for Magnus Sheffield on the final stage of Paris-Nice, the INEOS Grenadiers continue to step up to the plate in style in early 2025. "We want as a team to return to being the number one team in the world. It is a long journey, it will take time, but we will try to improve and get higher and higher," Ganna says fiercely. "It is a long year, but we started quite well."

And as for the aforementioned Milano-Sanremo, Ganna is understandably growing in confidence. "The best scenario is to raise your arms to the sky. What happens in between, I don't know," he previews in conclusion. "I hope to be able to do that, but obviously it's not easy. There are many opponents and it's a different race every time, so let's see."