PEZ Race Report: Filippo Ganna delivered exactly what everyone expected — and somehow still managed to exceed expectations. In the 2026 Giro d’Italia Stage 10 individual time trial, the Italian powerhouse demolished the field over 42 flat kilometers from Viareggio to Massa, putting massive chunks of time into both the specialists and the GC contenders. Behind him, Thymen Arensman rode himself back into podium contention, Jonas Vingegaard lost valuable time, and maglia rosa Afonso Eulálio once again refused to surrender pink.
After the second rest day, the Giro returned with one of its most important stages: a long, largely flat 42-kilometer individual time trial featuring three intermediate checks at 16.5, 28.5 and 38 kilometers. This was always going to be a day for specialists — and potentially a day of reckoning for GC hopefuls carrying weak legs.
The route is pancake flat, running north from Viareggio to Massa beneath the dramatic backdrop of the Apuan Alps. Astute PEZ-Fans may remember I visited here during the 2025 Giro, staying at the excellent Hotel Residence Esplanade — perfectly located right on the corsa and directly across from one of Italy’s longest and best seaside promenades.
Watch my video review below for the full breakdown, along with why I consider it a must-visit stop on your next cycling trip to Italy — whether you’re chasing the Giro or simply chasing great roads, great food and a proper post-ride aperitivo.
Early Fast Men Take the Hot Seat
Among the early starters, Germany’s Max Walscheid laid down the first serious benchmark, stopping the clock in 48:10 at a brisk average speed of 52.3 km/h. It earned the Lidl-Trek rider a brief spell in the hot seat — emphasis on brief.
Soon enough, Dutchman Sjoerd Bax came through ten seconds faster, pushing aside Walscheid while quietly turning heads with a strong ride against the clock.
But everyone knew the real show hadn’t started yet.
Ganna Goes Full Gas
Then came Filippo Ganna.
And from the moment the Italian champion rolled down the ramp, the stage essentially became a one-man exhibition.
The Netcompany INEOS giant absolutely mauled the course, catching an astonishing eight riders en route and posting the fastest time at every intermediate checkpoint. By the finish, he had put more than two full minutes into Bax — who still ended the day in fourth place.
Ganna ripped through the Tuscan roads at nearly 55 km/h average speed, turning what should have been a competitive Giro time trial into something closer to a national-level mismatch.
Derek Gee-West seems to be much happier now that he’s settled in at Lidl-Trek, taking 5th on the stage and still in the hunt for a top GC placing.
Arensman Delivers a Statement Ride
If anyone threatened Ganna’s dominance, it came from inside his own team.
Thymen Arensman arrived as sixth overall and delivered exactly the kind of ride his Giro desperately needed.
The Dutchman was flying early — second fastest at the first intermediate, only 30 seconds slower than Ganna and already nearly a minute faster than Felix Gall. More importantly for GC, Gall was losing time not only to Arensman but also to Jonas Vingegaard, who sat only 11th at the first split.
As the kilometers rolled by, Arensman never cracked.
He briefly slipped behind Cavagna at the second checkpoint, but by the third time split had clawed back the advantage. At the finish, Arensman stopped the clock with the second-fastest time of the day, 22 seconds quicker than Derek Gee-West and 48 seconds faster than Ben O’Connor.
Most importantly?
No GC rider would come close to touching him.
Vingegaard Off the Pace, Eulálio Holds Firm
Jonas Vingegaard’s ride was… fine.
Not disastrous. Not dominant.
The Dane ultimately finished 13th on the stage, conceding 1:06 to Arensman and giving up time to several key rivals. Jai Hindley lost around 1:40 to the Dutchman, Felix Gall surrendered nearly two and a half minutes, but Vingegaard’s ride lacked the authority many expected from the race favorite.
Still, there was one lingering question at the finish:
Would it be enough for pink?
That answer depended on Afonso Eulálio.
The Portuguese revelation has spent this Giro stubbornly refusing to fade, and once again he delivered exactly what he needed. Eulálio rode strongly enough to limit the damage and hold onto the maglia rosa heading into the next phase of the race.
Ganna won the stage.
Arensman won the day in GC.
And Eulálio? Somehow, against growing odds, he’s still wearing pink.
2026 Giro d’Italia Results
2026 Giro d’Italia Results Overall After Stage 10
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• Week 1 Stage by Stage Route Guide
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