Turnaround at the Giro: Roglic snatches the pink jersey from Thomas

To the cheers of his Slovenian fans, Primoz Roglic surprisingly snatched the pink jersey from the great favourite Geraint Thomas at the Giro d'Italia and took what was probably the decisive step towards overall victory.

Despite a technical defect, the Slovenian raced to a superior victory in the mountain time trial on the penultimate stage, making up the 26-second deficit in the overall standings. As a result, Roglic will go into Sunday's final stage to Rome in the leader's jersey with a 14-second lead over Thomas, where traditionally nothing should change in the overall standings.

"That's incredible. These are moments that you always remember. I can only enjoy it. All the people on the track deserve it," said Roglic.

Kämna falls back slightly

The German professional cyclist Lennart Kämna finished 14th in the 18.6 kilometre battle against the clock from Tarvisio to Monte Lussari, 2:18 minutes behind Roglic, and slipped to ninth place overall.

But the big spectacle came on the 7.8 kilometre climb on the final ascent with an average gradient of 11.2 kilometres in a duel between the two top stars. Roglic was already clearly in the lead at one point before his chain came off. However, the 33-year-old was undeterred not far from the Slovenian border and still took the win.

Roglic of all people! Almost three years ago, the former ski jumper lost the seemingly safe yellow jersey at the Tour de France to his compatriot Tadej Pogacar on the penultimate day in the battle against the clock in La-Planche-des-Belles-Filles.

Special place for Roglic

This time he reversed the situation - and in a place where he had fond memories. In Tarvisio, where Roglic now rode off the ramp, he won the gold medal on the ski jump at the Junior World Championships with the Slovenian team in 2007, before later switching to cycling.

On Sunday there should be no more changes at the top of the overall standings on the flat final stage over 126 kilometres with start and finish in Rome.

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