The opener is a 4,3km prologue. The top of the favourites is very similar. So there are several potential winners today. For the GC riders it might be a first test but too short for race deciding gaps. That said, Reus or Costa could gain an important gap already.
Van Winden as one of the early starters. And he sets a new best time beating Stenersen and Wang by 15s! Schumacher at +18, Roy +19 or Zardini +20 to mention some puncheurs with an early start.
The next starters can`t beat the new best: Oliveira +4 Kwok +6 Dumoulin +8 Kuboki +10 Sagan +16 Janse van Rensburg +16
Paillot as one of the best also hopes to win. He is a very similar rider to Van Winden, though has less speed on the flat and therefore a bit more uphill skills. So he might even hope for some decent GC depending on the uphill pace.
Today is a decent start. Not enough to beat Van Winden and also 1s behind Oliveira. But 3rd with +5.
Behind him a surprisingly strong finisher as also one of the top favourites, who surely gains time today on other puncheurs: Ghyselinck +4 Barth +8 Costa +12 Bibby +12
Gonzalez Salas next on the road but also the Spaniard can`t beat the time. 4th for him ahead of Paillot and behind the two strong Oliveira and Ghyselinck today. +4 to Van Winden.
Haugard next and this is a fast finish. He comes into 2nd with +3. So Van Winden seems to win today as his biggest competitors don`t beat him.
One of the last time trialists prefers the longer ones and Dillier can`t enter the top10. +9 for him. Just outside.
While the top puncheurs lose around 30-40s such as Froome or Bellis, some more time trialists with GC hopes did better. Nepo +7, LLS +20 or Reus +6.
So in the end Van Winden takes a nice win for TT squad Generali ahead of Haugard and Oliveira, who shows some GC motivation today. The GC riders are spread in a 30s area, which could decide over some GC positions in the end.
