Giro d'Italia 2022: Sir Bradley Wiggins assesses 'clear favourite' Simon Yates' Giro chances after stunning Stage 2 win

Sir Bradley Wiggins believes Simon Yates’ stunning Stage 2 Individual Time Trial victory makes him the ‘clear favourite’ to win this year’s Giro d’Italia. The BikeExchange–Jayco rider posted a time of 11’50” — five seconds quicker than that of Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo-Visma) who was in the lead at the time.

Ad/> Despite Mathieu Van der Poel’s effort after going out last, the Alpecin-Fenix man was three seconds shy of Yates’ time, although remains maglia rosa after his Stage 1 win 24 hours earlier. /> Giro d'ItaliaMcEwen & Blythe: Yates can learn lessons from failed 2018 Giro campaignAN HOUR AGO However, Wiggins believes Yates will ultimately seize the jersey from Van der Poel as the race goes on and claim his second Grand Tour win after winning the Vuelta a Espana in 2018.

“It wasn't enough to take the pink jersey but what I think is most interesting is this is clearly an indicator now that Simon Yates is here to win this Giro d’Italia in three weeks' time,” Wiggins said afterwards. “It was so close at the foot of the climb, and he executed that ride, nine kilometres.

“Remember, Simon isn't a time trial specialist but to execute a performance like that over a course like this shows he is now the clear favourite to win this Giro d’Italia.” Lightning-quick Yates storms to Time Trial victory in Budapest Giro d’Italia Stage 2 as it happened — Yates wins Individual time trial to boost GC chances Yates came close to winning the Giro back in 2018 however, despite leading the General Classification for much of the race, the Brit fell short in the final stages, eventually surrendering the maglia rosa to Chris Froome. Speaking on The Breakaway, Robbie McEwen suggested that Yates should have learned lessons form that disappointment and