Ganna powers to Algarve TT victory

  • 20 Feb 26
  • race Report

Filippo Ganna kicked off his 2026 campaign in style with victory in the stage three time trial at the Volta ao Algarve.

The Italian champion laid down a winning marker of 21 minutes and 53 seconds in the early going, and his benchmark would hold firm until the finish in Vilamoura.

Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek) caused a nervous finale after going one second quicker through the intermediate time check, but over the line the new race leader would have to settle for second, five seconds back on Ganna.

There were more strong rides as the Grenadiers placed two more GC contenders in the top six times, with Thymen Arensman (fifth) and Kevin Vauquelin (sixth) putting in solid efforts.

Those exploits saw both men climb the overall leaderboard, with Vauquelin now fourth (+57) and Arensman fifth (+1:01). Oscar Onley joins them in seventh on the GC (+1:17).

The race continues into the weekend, with a likely sprint stage on Saturday, followed by a hilly GC finale on Sunday.

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On his victory, Filippo Ganna said: "[The course] was a little bit technical. But we are at the start of the season, the shape is not the best, but I tried to defend myself. I followed the plan from the team and I followed the numbers. In the end we keep this amazing victory. I want to say thank you to the team and everyone who supports me. It was a little bit of a hard winter, where I started a bit more conservatively the preparation for this season. But the legs start to spin well and it can be a good motivation for the next races.

"In the final I felt faster. The first part was a little bit technical and I tried to not take too many risks. It's an important race today but one of my biggest goals is in less than a month. We cross the fingers now and we'll see in the next days - maybe we can look at a breakaway."

PT Flag

Volta ao Algarve

Stage 3
  • 1
    Filippo Ganna INEOS Grenadiers
    21:53
  • 2
    Juan Ayuso Lidl-Trek
    + 06
  • 3
    Jakob Söderqvist Lidl-Trek
    + 08
  • 5
    Thymen Arensman INEOS Grenadiers
    + 23
  • 6
    Kévin Vauquelin INEOS Grenadiers
    + 24
  • 24
    Oscar Onley INEOS Grenadiers
    + 01:09
  • 44
    Bob Jungels INEOS Grenadiers
    + 01:44
  • 100
    Laurens De Plus INEOS Grenadiers
    + 02:54
  • 106
    Kim Heiduk INEOS Grenadiers
    + 03:03
PT Flag

Volta ao Algarve

Overall Rankings (Stage 3)
  • 1
    Juan Ayuso Lidl-Trek
    08:32:43
  • 2
    Paul Seixas Decathlon CMA CGM Team
    + 07
  • 3
    João Almeida UAE Team Emirates-XRG
    + 44
  • 4
    Kévin Vauquelin INEOS Grenadiers
    + 57
  • 5
    Thymen Arensman INEOS Grenadiers
    + 01:01
  • 7
    Oscar Onley INEOS Grenadiers
    + 01:17
  • 75
    Filippo Ganna INEOS Grenadiers
    + 12:13
  • 85
    Bob Jungels INEOS Grenadiers
    + 13:57
  • 136
    Laurens De Plus INEOS Grenadiers
    + 22:00
  • 138
    Kim Heiduk INEOS Grenadiers
    + 22:09