Bruges (Belgium) – Filippo Gana broke Belgium’s heart at the World Road Championships in Flanders, winning Sunday against local favorite Wut van Aert.
The Italian trailed Van Aert in the two intermediate controls, but was able to do his best on the 43km flat cake to get closer to 47 minutes and 47 seconds.
Van Aert finished 5.37 seconds behind fellow Belgian Remko Evenpoel winning the bronze medal, 43.34 seconds behind the leader.
“Within a week my condition improved very much after a short camp on the hike,” Janna said.
“Today when I woke up I had a good feeling in my legs and my head did the rest.”
Evenbühl scored the first time for the signal, but Van Aert, who clinched silver in both the time trial and the road race at last year’s world championships in Imola, Italy , was already 28 seconds ahead in the first intermediate stage.
Ghana were six seconds behind Van Aert after 13.8 km, while Switzerland’s Stephen King was 17 seconds behind.
Van Aert increased her lead over Evenpoel to 31 seconds per second, but Jana was within a second of a heartbreaking finish.
Momentum swept the Italians’ path and Jana drew the air of celebration after crossing the finish line.
Four-time German world champion Tony Martin, who announced he would retire after the tournament, finished sixth.