Daniel Martínez plays his part in the time trial and the high mountains

The first event is this Saturday, when the individual time trial will be held, 31.2 kilometers long, flat, with some curves, a technical route that favors great specialists.

Martínez must lose a minute to Pogacar, but the fight for the podium is what must be analyzed. It takes Geraint Thomas (third) 16 seconds, but the course suits the Welshman and he must surpass the Colombian because his physical condition, height and body weight give him more power when pedaling. Daniel Martínez could leave a difference of about 30 seconds, a margin with which he would lose second place.

Ben O’Connor, fourth overall, would beat him by 15 seconds, but the difference is 59 seconds, so it would not take away third place. Einer Rubio has it more complicated because he is not a specialist and it is normal for him to fall out of the top 10 again. Perhaps there will be a fight for partial victory and another for the general, although based on what Pogacar has shown that could change.

Filippo Ganna (Ineos) starts as a favorite, but when it comes to the fight for the lead, the Slovenian runner is the reference. It is considered ruled out that he will increase his rivals’ time, so the fight will focus on the top five and there is Martínez. The first time trial, of 41 km, is a reference, but today’s time trial, between Castiglione delle Stiviere and Desenzano del Garda, is different not only because of the route and distance, but because it takes place eight days later, and that changes.

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Pogacar warns that he performs less in these efforts, but it is clear that he will add seconds in his favor. Martínez comes from an excellent time in the first week, and that says that he is in shape.

On the other hand, tomorrow the stage will be long, 222 km, with five mountain passes, one of the third category, another of the second and three of the first, the last of these at the finish line. A fraction with 5,300 meters high. The Colombians will have the option to make up time and improve overall.