Ganna set for showdown with Evenepoel at Paris Olympics

PARIS: Filippo Ganna has been flying under the radar this season, but on Saturday, the Italian will go all out as he takes on Belgium’s prodigy Remco Evenepoel in a much-anticipated individual time trial at the Paris Olympics. While the Tour de France was Evenepoel’s main target this season, Ganna has built his year around the Games, where he will look to claim his first individual medal, on the track or road.

The 28-year-old is a beast on flat terrain, having won six individual pursuit world titles and two others in the time trial on the road. Although he won gold in the team pursuit on the track in Tokyo, he has yet to climb onto an individual event’s podium.

“I tried to perfect everything. I won’t say I’ve gone teetotal, but almost. One day I indulged in two beers, and let’s say that was the ultimate splurge,” Ganna told Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.