With a valiant team ride and a fighting effort over the last ascent from Andreas Leknessund yesterday, it meant the Team DSM rider would line up for today’s stage nine time trial in the Maglia Rosa once more. Heavy rain throughout the morning and afternoon meant it was going to be wet conditions for most riders as they rolled down the start ramp in Savignano sul Rubicone, with 35 kilometres of road ahead of them.
After strong work throughout the opening nine stages, the majority of the team focused on getting through the day safely and in a good way with more opportunities to come in the coming weeks. Alberto Dainese and Niklas Märkl set early times of note; both entering the provisional top five at the completion of their rides, although they would slide down the order as more riders finished.
All attention then turned to Leknessund who was the last rider to leave the starting house. Giving everything he had around the course and pushing out every last watt possible, Leknessund would cross the line for a respectable 19th place on the stage, one minute and 15 seconds down on the winner, Evenepoel. It’s a result that sees Leknessund and the team lose the pink jersey, but everyone can be proud of the effort they have put in over the past week.
