As it happened: GC changes at the Giro d'Italia after rain-affected time trial

Hello and welcome to stage ten of the 2025 Giro d'Italia!

We start the second week of the Giro with what’s likely to be one of the most significant days so far in the race for the pink jersey - the race’s second individual time trial. While the gaps in stage one were mostly small, this one is twice as long, and so a real chance for the stronger riders against the clock to take a chunk of time.

Historically, early time trials like this are where Primož Roglič has laid the foundations for his GC overall victories, but the Slovenian is this time left playing catch up after his unfortunate day in the gravel on Sunday. He finds himself 2-25 down on Isaac Del Toro in the pink jersey, and 1-12 behind rival Jan Ayuso.

The stage hasn’t even started yet, but already it’s off to a bad start for Roglič - in his recon ride this morning, he crashed. This won’t do much for his reputation as someone who hits the deck a lot, and we’re now left wondering if he’ll be firing on all cylinders for what is a very important stage for his pink jersey chances.

This is a huge day in the fledgling career of Isaac del Toro. After his sensational ride on the gravel two days ago, the 21-year-old is in the race lead, and will wear the pink jersey for the first time today.

He’s proven himself to be a good time trialist, backed up by a 12th-place finish in Tirana on stage two, and should be confident of defending his 1-13 lead on GC.

This could also be a pivotal day in shaping how UAE Team Emirates - XRG will approach the GC race. With Isaac del Toro first and Juan Ayuso second, there’s mumblings and speculation of potential team disharmony as ambitions potentially clash, while even Brandon McNulty and Adam Yates are still in contention at 9th and 10th at 1-59 and 2-10 respectively. As a time trial, today is a chance for each rider to ride for themselves without risking harming teammates, and make a case for leadership status.

It’ll be a while until we get to them and the other GC riders - they’re setting off in reverse GC order, meaning the man currently in last place (Alexander Krieger) will set off in a few moments.

OFFICIAL START

Krieger rolls off the start ramp in Lucca, getting this second week of the Giro underway.

It was raining earlier (as Roglič knows, having fallen on the wet roads), but it’s dried up for now. How the stage unfolds could drastically change based on how the weather develops over the day.

The top favourite for the stage win, Josh Tarling, will be setting off about halfway through. He’ll be hoping the weather remains dry by then, otherwise he’ll be at a serious disadvantage to these earlier starters.

One rider who will benefit from the dry conditions at the moment is Ethan Hayter. He went well in the Tirana stage to finish ninth, and will be starting his ride in about 15 minutes.

Another rider likely to be an early pace-setter has just begun - Michael Hepburn.  

Olav Kooij is off. This will essentially be a rest day for the Dutchman, as he saves himself for the sprints to come in search of an elusive stage win.

Krieger is the first man through the 8km time check, with a time of 11-40. There will be one more check before the finish.

Casper van Uden is the latest rider to start. Whatever happens today or the rest of this Giro, his race is already a huge success thanks to his surprise stage win in Lecce.

Hepburn has posted what is by far the best time so far at the first time check, 32 seconds quicker than the previous best by Maikel Zijlaard.

Ethan Hayter has just started his ride. This will be one to watch. 

Jensen Plowright is the first man at the 2nd intermediate check, having passed minute man Alexander Krieger. His time is 26-03.

Josef Černý has just started his ride. He’s another contender for the early fastest time, having finished up in 13th in Tirana.

Hayter's through the first time check, and he's 12 seconds quicker than Hepburn. 

Edoardo Affini is off! He’s a major favourite for the win after finishing in Tirana, and having come so close to stage wins at the Giro in the past.

Plowright is the first man to reach the finish in Pisa. He completed the course in 35-44 - the winning time will be several minutes quicker.

Hepburn's arrived, and will take his place on the hotseat having gone 2-24 quicker than Plowright.

Daan Hoole is off, and is another rider who must be considered a contender for a high placing having been 6th on stage two. Given the way Lidl-Trek's Giro has been going you wouldn't put it past him.

Černý came through the first time check with the second fastest time, five seconds slower than Hayter. The Brit remains the fastest man on the road for now - but Affini will be at the first time check soon. 

Affini's arrived, and he's just one second slower than Hayter. This is shaping up to be a great battle between them, who have been saving themselves for this day. 

Hayter is 23 seconds up on Hepburn at the 2nd check. He should be setting the fastest time at the finish soon. 

Hayter has a rival - Hoole has just beaten his time at the first time check by 6 seconds. 

NEW FASTEST TIME - HAYTER

Hayter has indeed set the fastest time - 32-40, 40 seconds quicker than Hepburn. Both Affini and Hoole look set to challenge him, however. 

Third fastest time for Josef Černý at the 2n check, 46 seconds down. He won't be challenging Hayter's time, it seems.

Affini is through the 2nd time check, only 2 seconds slower than Hayter. This is going to be very close between them...

Here's Hayter against the backdrop of the Medici aqueduct, en route to setting the fastest time so far.

Dan Hoole is flying - he’s just put 14 seconds into Hayter at the 2nd time check! At this rate he’ll be headed straight for the hot seat upon finishing.

Affini's finished, and he's short of Hayter's time. In fact he drifted some way behind him in the final part of the course, finishing 14 seconds slower. 

The race for the stage win is set to start hotting up shortly, as there’s a flurry of top contenders all now due to set off. Luke Plapp has just begun his ride, and will be followed soon by Wout van Aert, Josh Tarling and Jay Vine all within a few minutes of each other.

Affini lost 12 seconds to Hayter in the final part of the course. Hoole has 14 seconds to play with to replace the Brit as leader in the clubhouse - will it be enough?

Wout van Aert has just begun. Will he push for the stage win having looked so much better to take the victory on the gravel on Sunday?

NEW FASTEST TIME - HOOLE

Daan Hoole has done it, he's beaten Hayter's time - and by 10 whole seconds! Could that even be a contender for the stage win?

The big man is off - Josh Tarling begins his ride. He’s the top favourite after his success in Tirana, and should also like this course.

Tarling is immediately followed by Jay Vine, another favourite having done so well to place third in the Tirana time trial.

The weather remains dry for now, but the clouds are darkening. This could seriously change the completion of the race, especially if the heavens open while Tarling and co are out on the course.

They’re enjoying the dry roads for now, though - Plapp is through the first check just 2 seconds slower than Hoole. He’s in contention for the stage.

Disaster for Jay Vine - he's had a puncture, losing precious seconds with a bike change. That'll likely be the end of his hopes for a stage win, and continues his rotten run of luck at this Giro.

Mads Pedersen is off. He’s wearing the Maglia Ciclamino, and could gain a few more points in that classification with a high finish - will that be enough of an incentive for him to go for it today?

Van Aert is through the first time check, and it’s a promising time - just 3 seconds slower than Hoole. Unlike in Tirana, he’s in contention for the win today.

Tarling is through the first time check…and he’s absolutely smashed Hoole’s time, by 17 seconds! He’s on for a stunning time at this rate.

Kasper Asgreen has arrived at the finish with a decent time, the 6th fastest so far. 

Tarling has been slowed by by a few seconds when he couldn't come past Mikkel Frølich Honoré going around a corner. It'll take more than that to prevent him from setting the fastest time at this rate, however. 

Plapp has slowed down a lot in this 2nd section of the course. Having been just 2 seconds behind Hoole, he's now 31 seconds adrift.

Pedersen has set the 15 fastest time at the first time check. It seems he won't be in contention for more points today.

Wout van Aert has slowed down significantly in the second part of the race - and now looks to be out of contention for the stage win. He’s 49 seconds slower than Hoole at the 2nd check.

Tarling’s through the 2nd check - and he too has slowed a lot! In fact, he’s four seconds slower than Hoole. That’s a 21 second swing between the two of them from the first and second time checks.

That’s Tarling, Van Aert and Plapp who have all lost a lot of time in the section between the first and second check. Though it’s not raining, it seems conditions have changed - a stronger wind may be slowing them down through that section.

Plapp’s finished with the four fastest time, with only Hoole, Hayter and Affini quicker than him. 

Tarling is nearing the finish. He's having to go really hard to try and make up the seconds he's down on Hoole to.

Van Aert's finished, down with the 10th best time. Tarling will be next...

...and he's slower than Hoole, by 7 seconds. Tarling won't be adding a second stage win today. 

Vine has reached the finish, with the 5th fastest time. That's some effort, remembering the time he lost due to his puncture. He'll be left mulling what could have been.

With Tarling having finished, the race has calmed down for now. Nobody has cracked the top 10 at the first time check for a while.

Pedersen finishes with the 17th fastest time. He rolled over the finish line, not pushing hard for a strong time.

Here's Daan Hoole, the leader at the clubhouse - and now a genuine contender for the stage win. 

Brandon Rivera has just started his ride, having caught attention with his sensational ride on the gravel in service of Egan Bernal on Sunday. He’s taking things easy today, rolling off the start ramp with no visible intention of going for it.

There aren’t any contenders for the stage win on the road right now. There are a number of riders who would have started the race as potential GC men, such as Dani Martínez and Pello Bilbao, but have instead found themselves over 20 minutes down.

Mattia Cattaneo has just started. He's the first man for a while who might be able to challenge for a top time - watch this space.

Dani Martínez finishes with the 25th best time. That’s some come-down from last year, when he was 8th and 14th in the two time trials, but whereas then he was fighting for second-place overall, this year his priority is doing all he can for Primož Roglič’s prink jersey bid.

David Gaudu has set off. He was in GC contention, before losing 5-10 on the gravel during Sunday’s stage. He now finds himself 6-56 down.

Here we go, the race is on again! Cattaneo has gone through the first time check 4 seconds quicker than Hoole, while, more surprisingly, Marco Frigo is 3 seconds quicker. Hoole did speed up in the latter part of the course, but his time is under threat for the first time in a while.

We’re now getting into the GC riders at the start. Derek Gee has just begun his ride, the first rider within four minutes of the pink jersey. There are just 19 riders to come after him.

Frigo has slowed down at the 2nd time check, drifting to 34 seconds slower than Hoole. Hoole's time looks safe for now. 

Rubio, Pidcock, Harper, Pellizzari and Piganzoli have followed Gee in starting, leaving just 14 riders left.

Cattaneo reaches the 2nd time check, and he too has lost time. He arrives 12 seconds slower than Hoole, having been four seconds up at the first.

Mathias Vacek has just started, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how well he can go. He’s been brilliant in service of his teammates this race, and was 5th when given a chance to ride for himself on the first time trial. Can he better that today?

The riders had been going in one minute intervals; now the final starters will set off every three minutes. Thymen Arensman is up next, another quality time trialist who will hope to rise up the rankings today.

Max Poole and Derek Gee have both got off to good starts, posting the 8th and 9th best times respectively at the first check.

Frigo finishes with the 7th fastest time. He didn’t keep up with his early pace, but that’s still a strong time from someone who isn’t a recognised time trialist.

Damiano Caruso has just started, and Michael Storer is next, after which it’s time for one of the day’s most anticipated rides - Primož Roglič.

4th place at the finish for Mattia Cattaneo. That's the best time for a long time today, and an effort the Italian will be happy with. 

Vacek is flying! He's through the first time check 6 seconds quicker than Hoole. Time for Hoole to start getting nervous again.

Roglič waves to the crowd just seconds before he starts his ride, looking calm as ever. How is he feeling after his recon crash this morning? We'll soon find out...

Arsenman posts the 15th best time at the first time check. That’s perhaps slower than a time trialist as good as him would have hoped for.

Adam Yates hasn’t got off to the best start, losing his bidon just moments into his ride. He’s ninth on GC, leaving just eight more riders to start.

A spanner has been thrown into the works - it’s started raining! That’s good news for Hoole, but really complicates matters for the GC men on the course now, who will have to judge how many risks to take. 

Poole reaches the finish with 14th best time at the finish so far. That should see him jump up the GC from his current rank of 23rd.

Bernal has started his ride, having swapped his Colombian national road champion jersey for his Colombian national time trial champion skinsuit.

Roglič has posted his first time at the first check…and it’s not good. He’s only the 20th quickest so far, much slower than you’d usually expect from him. Is this because of the wet roads, a consequence of his recon crash, or a mixture of both? We’ll have a better idea when the net GC riders post their times.

Vacek’s bid for the stage win seems to be dissipating. He’s slipped all the way down to 10th, 37 seconds down on Hoole, having been 2nd quickest at the first check. The weather appears to be changing everything.

Adam Yates posts the 32nd fastest time at the first time check, 8 seconds slower than Roglič.

Giulio Ciccone is off. As a rider who struggles against the clock, today will be all about damage limitation, and he's unlikely to retain his current position of 5th overall.

Brandon McNulty is a considerable 1-00 down at the first check, and therefore 30 seconds down on Roglič. These times being posted suggest the weather is having a big impact - and that therefore Roglič’s time isn’t quite as bad as it first seemed.

Richard Carapaz has started. He's had a brilliant Giro so far, riding his way to 4th overall, but the time trial is typically his achilles heel.

Bernal is through the first time check too, and is the slowest of the top 10 so far, 1-23 down on the quickest time. That’s 53 seconds slower than Roglič - the Colombian stands to lose a lot of time at this rate.

Vacek is approaching the finish, and he’s sat up. Having been on course for the fastest time, he instead posts the 41st best time, opting for safety first.

Antonio Tiberi is out on the course now, and is among the best time trialists of the GC riders. How much will he be willing to risk on these wet roads?

Juan Ayuso is off! Only his teammate Isaac del Toro is left to come.

Roglič is through the second time check, 53 seconds down.

Simon Yates is looking good, 24th fastest at the first time check - only 5 seconds slower than Roglič.

Del Toro is off, resplendent in the pink jersey!

The roads are getting worse and worse out there. The GC contenders will have to be very careful not to crash.

Carapaz is 51 seconds down at the first time check. That’s not bad, only a handful of seconds slower than the Yates twins.

Caruso finishes with the 23rd best time. As a result, he’ll be leapfrogged by Thymen Arensman on GC, falling from 12th to 13th.

Normally an elite time trialist, McNulty is struggling out there. He's 43rd fastest at the second time check.

Storer posts the 40th best time at the finish. He'll fall behind both Arensman and Caruso on GC.

Tiberi is struggling in the wet - he’s 59 seconds down at the first check, slower than both the Yates twins and Carapaz.

Roglič finishes with the 17th best time, 1-15 down on Hoole. He'll move up on GC - but by how much?

Ayuso is through the first check, and looking good. He's lost just 38 seconds at the first check, only 8 seconds slower than Roglič.

Simon Yates is on a great day. He’s 19th quickest at the second time check, only a few seconds slower than Roglič.

Del Toro hasn’t reached the time check yet, and is losing lots of time…

He arrives at last, 1-04 down. That’s 26 seconds down on Ayuso - he’s in danger of losing the 1-13 advantage he has over his teammate on GC, and could hand over the pink jersey to him at this rate.

Away from the GC race, all these times means Daan Hoole is all but guaranteed to take the stage win. What a result this will be for the Dutchman.

Ciccone is losing a lot of time. He’s 2 minutes down at the second time check.

McNulty finishes 2-23 down. He’ll fall behind Roglič on GC, but retains his place in the top ten ahead of Arensman.

Adam Yates finished before McNulty, and slowed significantly in the final phase of the course. He was four seconds slower than his American teammate, meaning he’ll slip to 10th on GC, Roglič taking him over.

Bernal will be next at the finish. How bad will the damage be?

Bernal's 58th fastest, losing 2-58. That will see him fall from 7th to 11th on GC.

Simon Yates completes his ride, and it's a blinder. He's 22nd fastest at 1-43. He's the first GC man at the finish not to be taken over by Roglič, and is set to move up the rankings.

Roglič has so far leapfrogged Adam Yates, McNulty and Bernal on GC, and is likely to surpass more riders. 

One rider he won't be passing is Ayuso - the Spaniard is flying, setting the 13th best time at the 2nd checkt, despite the wet roads.

It’s raining even heavier now, as Ciccone reaches the finishes. He’s 2-48, which will see him slip from 5th to 9th.

Del Toro reaches the second time check, 43 seconds slower than Ayuso. He’s started to limit his losses, and is on course to defend the pink. It's not guaranteed yet though.

Carapaz has arrived, and he’s shipped some time. 2-52 to Hoole, which will see him fall down the GC several places.

Here comes Tiberi...and it's a good time all things considered. He's lost only 1-53, which will mean he retains his 3rd place on GC, just ahead of Simon Yates, who will move up to 4th.

Just Ayuso and Del Toro left to finish now. They will remain first and second on GC - but in what order?

Ayuso's slowed down on the final stretch, but it's still a good time. He's 22nd quickest, at 1-34. That's 19 seconds slower than rival Roglič.

Del Toro's approaching the finish, and his pink jersey should be safe.

Del Toro arrives, 2-22. His pink jersey is safe - just.

DAAN HOOLE WINS

That also confirms Daan Hoole as the stage winner!

Chapeau to the young Dutchman. Though the race was skewed towards the end by the rain, he still got the better of his main stage rival Josh Tarling fair and square, by a whole 7 seconds.

The top five on GC now looks like this:

1 Del Toro

2 Ayuso

3 Tiberi

4 Simon Yates

5 Roglič

The GC is really starting to take shape now, too. The top five have gone clear from the rest, with 42 seconds separating Roglič in 5th and McNulty in 6th.

Here’s a breakdown of how all the main GC contenders did relative to each other today:

Roglič

Arensman at 0-13

Ayuso at 0-19

S. Yates at 0-28

Tiberi at 0-38

Del Toro at 1-07

McNulty at 1-08

A.Yates at 1-12

Ciccone at 1-33

Carpaz at 1-37

Bernal at 1-43

Del Toro at the finish, having defended his pink jersey by 25 seconds. 

The day's winner, Daan Hoole. 

Thanks for joining us today! As expected the time trial has had a significant impact on the GC, with Juan Ayuso, Antonio Tiberi, Simon Yates,  and Primož Roglič all bearing down on Isaac Del Toro in the pink jersey. This is shaping up to be a thrilling unpredictable GC race - be sure to join us again tomorrow for the race’s next chapter.