Dazzling Pogacar wins time trial to extend Giro lead

Tadej Pogacar stretched his Giro d'Italia lead as he powered to victory in the stage-seven time trial, while Geraint Thomas dropped to third overall.

The Slovenian once again illustrated his status as the overwhelming Giro favourite, flying up the final climb to overhaul Filippo Ganna's time.

Pogacar trailed double world time trial champion Ganna by 47 seconds at the foot of the climb but claimed his second stage win of the week by 17 seconds after a blistering run to the finish line.

The 25-year-old finished the 40.6km stage in 51 minutes 44 seconds.

Welshman Thomas, who began the day second overall, fell to third after losing two minutes to Pogacar on the day.

Bora-hansgrohe rider Dani Martinez finished one minute 49 seconds behind Pogacar but it was enough to see him jump above his former Ineos team-mate Thomas into second, two minutes and 36 seconds off the leader's pink jersey overall.

Thomas said: "I just tried to ride within myself and then when it was time to go, I felt OK but just lacked a bit. I couldn't get right on top of it over those kickers. It is what it is, just one of those days."

Pogacar, who was racing in his first time trial since the World Championships in Glasgow last August, said he took it slow in the opening stages.

"It was a lot of preparation for this and a lot of ups and downs since last year, but I'm super happy today," Pogacar said.

"I felt good. I started with a bit of an easier pace to get used to the TT bike and paced myself to the climb.

"Then the climb was full gas and I'm super happy with today's day on the bike."

Stage seven result

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 51mins 44secs

2. Filippo Ganna (Ita/Ineos Grenadiers) +17secs

3. Magnus Sheffield (US/Ineos Grenadiers) +49secs

4. Thymen Arensman (Ned/Ineos Grenadiers) +1min

5. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger/Bora-hansgrohe) +1min 05secs

6. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain-Victorious) +1min 21secs

7. Luke Plapp (Aus/Jayco AlUla) +1min 45secs

8. Dani Martinez (Col/Bora-hansgrohe) +1min 49secs

9. Mikkel Bjerg (Den/UAE Team Emirates) +1min 56secs

10. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +2mins

General classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates) 24hrs 12mins 36secs

2. Dani Martinez (Col/Bora-hansgrohe) +2mins 36secs

3. Geraint Thomas (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) +2mins 46secs

4. Ben O'Connor (Aus/Decathlon) +3mins 33secs

5. Luke Plapp (Aus/Jayco AlUla) +3mins 42secs

6. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz/Astana Qazaqstan) +3mins 49secs

7. Cian Uijtdebroeks (Bel/Team Visma-Lease a Bike) +3mins 50secs

8. Antonio Tiberi (Ita/Bahrain-Victorious) +4mins 11secs

9. Filippo Zana (Ita/Jayco AlUla) +4mins 41secs

10. Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita/Astana Qazaqstan) +4mins 44secs