On May 10, 2025, the Giro d’Italia saw a thrilling showdown in its second stage, where young British cyclist Josh Tarling of Team Ineos Grenadiers clinched his first Grand Tour victory by a razor-thin margin. The stage, an individual time trial around the city of Tirana, featured a dramatic finish, with Tarling clocking a remarkable time of 16:07 over the 13.7km course, just one second ahead of seasoned competitor Primož Roglič from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
This was a day of fine margins, as both riders showcased their time trialing prowess. Tarling, only 21 years old, demonstrated exceptional control and speed, averaging 51.003 km/h. He maneuvered through the course’s many corners with precision, powered up the gradual climb to Sauk, and took calculated risks on the fast descent to the finish line. Roglič, the 2023 Giro champion, matched Tarling's time checks and faced a headwind in the final kilometer, ultimately finishing just one second behind.
Tarling’s victory not only marks a significant milestone in his career but also makes him the youngest-ever winner of a Giro time trial. "I can't believe it, I'm so happy," Tarling exclaimed after his win. "The wait wasn't nice, I don't want to do it again. It was a long day for 13km. I was afraid of all the favourites, Wout, Mads and Primož really scared me, it was a stressful day." He credited his success to managing the final section of the course effectively, stating, "We did the first part smoothly and in control, with the climb nice and hard. The last section was harder than we thought in the recon ride, so I made sure to really hurt there."
Roglič's performance was equally commendable, as he not only secured second place but also took the maglia rosa, the pink jersey awarded to the race leader, moving ahead of stage one victor Mads Pedersen from Lidl-Trek. Roglič now leads the general classification by just one second over Pedersen, who finished 12 seconds down on Tarling.
The stage began with Ethan Hayter of Soudal-QuickStep setting an early benchmark with a time of 16:21. However, the competition quickly heated up as Jan Tratnik of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe shaved two seconds off Hayter's time. Edoardo Affini from Visma-Lease a Bike then took the lead with a time of 16:13, but his reign was short-lived as Jay Vine from UAE Team Emirates-XRG clocked in at 16:10, proving to be a formidable contender.
As the stage progressed, Tarling began his ride, donning the iconic British time trial champion's jersey. He started strong, quickly establishing a lead over his competitors. At the first time check after five kilometers, he was already seven seconds ahead of Vine. Despite losing some time on the climb to Sauk, he regained momentum on the descent, ultimately finishing three seconds faster than Vine.
Roglič's ride was marked by a strategic approach, as he matched Tarling's time at the Sauk split. However, he faced a growing headwind in the final kilometers, which made it challenging to overtake Tarling. In a nail-biting finish, Roglič crossed the line just 30 meters from the finish when the clock turned red, confirming Tarling's victory by a mere second.
Mathias Vacek from Lidl-Trek finished third, five seconds behind Tarling, while Brandon McNulty from UAE Team Emirates-XRG came in fourth at 12 seconds off the pace. Other notable performances included Juan Ayuso, who lost 16 seconds to Roglič, and Egan Bernal, who fell behind by 48 seconds.
The day was not without its mishaps, as Luke Plapp of Jayco AlUla crashed during his ride, ultimately finishing with a time of 19:54. Despite the crash, he managed to complete the stage, showcasing the resilience of the competitors.
As the Giro d’Italia continues, the stakes are higher than ever. With Roglič now in the lead and Tarling gaining momentum, the upcoming stages promise to be filled with excitement and fierce competition. Fans are eager to see how the dynamics will shift in the following days, especially with riders like Pedersen and Van Aert still in the mix.
In conclusion, Josh Tarling's historic win in the Tirana time trial not only cements his status as a rising star in cycling but also sets the stage for an exhilarating Giro d’Italia. As the competitors head into the next stages, the tension and anticipation will undoubtedly continue to build, making this year’s race one for the ages.
