Kämna falls short of the top ten: "No standout performance"
Giro d'Italia 2025: Kämna Aims for Top-Ten Finish, Struggles in Opening Stage
The Giro d'Italia 2025 kicked off with a thrilling opening stage, and one of the contenders for the pink jersey, Primoz Roglic, faced a tough start. Five of his helpers had to be replaced before the race, while Roglic trails 43 seconds behind Remco Evenepoel after the Belgian's victory.
Evenepoel, who made a comeback to the race after abandoning it two years ago, claimed the first pink jersey with a 22-second lead over the two-time time trial world champion Filippo Ganna. Lennard Kämna, the German cyclist, shed his champion's jersey and started the Giro d'Italia, aiming for top-ten finishes in both the opening time trial and the overall classification.
However, Kämna's performance in the opening stage was not as expected, resulting in a 22nd place finish. His sports director, Jens Zemke, mentioned that Kämna had been under the weather in the last few days and did not complete the full training program. Kämna himself stated that his performance was solid but tough, with long stretches and limited opportunities to catch his breath.
Despite the setback, Kämna expressed that he is still confident. He referred to Evenepoel and Roglic as extraordinary riders and acknowledged the challenge they pose in the overall classification. The second stage of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday offers a chance for sprinters, with a flat 202-kilometer route from Teramo to San Salvo.
Kämna, who has already won stages at the Tour de France (2020) and the Giro (2022) in the high mountains, is taking on the overall classification for the first time this year. His goal remains to secure a top-ten finish in the overall classification, but the road ahead will be challenging as he aims to close the gap on Evenepoel and Roglic.
In other news, three riders had to drop out due to COVID-19 infections in the past days, and Roglic's compatriot Jan Tratnik was also affected by a training accident on Friday, resulting in him being replaced by rookie Thomas Gloag. The cycling world eagerly awaits the developments in the Giro d'Italia as the race progresses.
Kämna's sports director, Jens Zemke, mentioned that Kämna had been under the weather in the last few days and did not complete the full training program, which might have impacted his performance in the Giro d'Italia 2025. Despite the disappointing 22nd place finish in the opening stage, Kämna still expressed confidence, acknowledging the challenge Evenepoel and Roglic pose in the overall classification, and looking forward to closing the gap on them.
