Race's second stage of Giro victoriously concludes with Tarling, edging out Roglic by a mere second, securing Roglic's new overall leadership position.
In the heart of Tirana, Albania, British cyclist Joshua Tarling snatched a thrilling victory from pre-race favorite Primož Roglič in the individual time trial, clinching the second stage of the 2023 Giro d'Italia by a solitary second.
Roglič now sits atop the leaderboard, albeit with a slim margin.
Among the 58 riders that followed, none managed to surpass Tarling's blistering time of 16 minutes, 7 seconds, pedaling through the 14-kilometer (8.5-mile) route around Tirana.
The tension was palpable as Roglič took the starting line, coming agonizingly close to Tarling's time but ultimately crossing the finish line one second slower. The relief on Tarling's face was evident as he sat in the leader's chair.
"It's not nice, I don't want to do it again," Tarling joked when asked about the nail-biting wait. "It was a long day for 13k... Roglič really gave me a scare so, yeah, it was stressful there."
Tarling, racing alongside Ineos Grenadiers, secured his first Grand Tour stage victory at the tender age of 21, making him the youngest Giro d'Italia time trial winner in history.
"I can't believe it to be honest. I've been trying and I'm so happy," Tarling exclaimed.
Jay Vine claimed the third podium spot, finishing three seconds behind Tarling.
Roglič's lead is slight. The Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe rider holds an advantage of just a single second over Mads Pedersen, who conquered the opening stage on Friday.
"It's like a beautiful surprise," Roglič said with a grin. "I mean, okay, you know that you are strong, but that doesn't mean that you know how fast everyone else will go. At the end was really close today, one second off, so really, really happy about it."
Mathias Vacek snatched third place on the general classification, five seconds behind Roglič.
The Giro remains in Albania for Sunday's third stage, a hilly 160-kilometer (99-mile) leg that starts and finishes in the coastal city of Vlore. The race will then cross the Adriatic Sea to resume in Puglia, Italy, on Tuesday after a rest day.
"For me, it doesn't change the plan overall much," Roglič stated about taking the pink jersey so early. "The plan is to have it on while arriving in Rome."
Pedersen could potentially reclaim the lead during tomorrow's stage, according to Roglič. Only time will tell. The race culminates in Rome on June 1st.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/primoz-roglich-forges-slender-lead-giro-d-italia-2025-second-stage-2025-05-13/
[3] https://www.velonews.com/news/racing/roglich-breaks-away-to-win-2025-giro-ditalia-stage-2/
[5] https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2025/2025/05/13/roglic-takes-slender-lead-in-time-trial-Stage-2/
Stay tuned for more cycling news at our website.
- Joshua Tarling, at just 21 years old, made history by becoming the youngest Giro d'Italia time trial winner ever, clinching the second stage in Tirana, Albania.
- Roglič's victory in the individual time trial propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, albeit with a slim margin over Mads Pedersen who conquered the opening stage.
- Despite Roglič's accomplishment, the race remains competitive, as Pedersen could potentially reclaim the lead during tomorrow's stage.
- The Giro d'Italia will travel to Vlore, Albania for Sunday's third stage, followed by a resumption in Puglia, Italy on Tuesday after a rest day.
- Interested cycling enthusiasts can stay updated on the latest news and developments at various websites like Reuters, Velonews, and CyclingNews.
