Ganna wins worlds individual pursuit title

Filippo Ganna was waiting for the big ride today after yesterday helping Italy to the team pursuit bronze medal in the Alpeldoorn world championships and he didn’t let down. He won the individual pursuit gold medal in the Dutch track, setting two Italian records: 4-13.622 in qualifying and 4-13.607 in the final against Portuguese Ivo Oliveira. Oliveira recorded 4-15.428 and 4-12.365 in qualifying.

The Verbanese repeated the title he won at the 2016 London worlds. Third place went to Russian Alexander Evtushenko, 4-13.786.
“I wanted to finish as soon as possible because I was suffering so much,” said Ganna. “He started so strongly but I relied on my coach and on the plan that we had.
“When did I realise I passed him? When I did it. In those moments you don’t have much time to make important reasoning. You are going all out from start to finish and the only thing you can do is just keep yourself on the track.

“I’m happy but I am tired. It was a long week now I want to rest for a few days before I am back on the road, and that will be next week in Tirreno-Adriatico.”