Alec Segaert Targets Top Five in Giro d’Italia Time Trial
Belgian cyclist Alec Segaert (23) is poised to be the standout Belgian rider in today’s Stage 10 individual time trial at the Giro d’Italia, a 42-kilometer flat course between Viareggio and Massa in Tuscany. Segaert, who rides for Bahrain Victorious after transferring from Lotto in the winter, has marked this stage as his most anticipated day of the race, aiming for a top-five or top-ten finish against a field led by Italian time trial world champion Filippo Ganna.
A Long-Awaited Challenge
The 42 km time trial is the longest in the Giro since 2015 and the only individual race against the clock in this year’s edition. For Segaert, it represents both his first time trial of the 2026 season and the first competitive outing on his new Bianchi time trial bike. “It’s certainly the day I’ve marked the most,” Segaert told Het Laatste Nieuws. “In preparation I’ve often been on the time trial bike to get used to my position.”
The West Flemish rider from Lendelede acknowledged the challenge posed by the flat, straightforward course, which tends to favor the “big engines” in the peloton. “The real big engines like Ganna and Vingegaard have more advantage in such a long time trial,” Segaert explained. “The course is also completely flat; for me, a time trial may have more intervals and hills.”
A Breakthrough Season
Segaert arrives at the time trial on the back of an impressive spring classics campaign that has validated his move to Bahrain Victorious. He won GP Denain, finished 15th in the Tour of Flanders, and placed 16th in Paris-Roubaix. His aggressive riding style — characterized by long-range attacks that Belgian media have dubbed a “Segaertje” — has already earned him the Combativity Prize in Stage 6 of this Giro.
Despite his success, Segaert remains grounded about his time trial prospects. “Filippo Ganna will stand out and I also expect the classification riders up front,” he said. “As skinny as those climbers sometimes are, it’s crazy how fast they can ride on a time trial bike. Top ten or maybe top five would be nice.”
Team Dynamics and the Pink Jersey
Segaert’s time trial ambitions are intertwined with a larger team objective at Bahrain Victorious. His Portuguese teammate Afonso Eulalio currently leads the general classification in the pink jersey, holding a 2-minute-24-second advantage over Jonas Vingegaard. The time trial represents a significant threat to Eulalio’s lead, given his modest time trial history — he finished 92nd and 150th in previous Giro time trials.
To optimize pacing strategy, Segaert’s brother Loic — a trainer for Bahrain Victorious — was flown in from Belgium to Tuscany specifically for the time trial. Segaert starts at 14:40 CET, while Ganna starts at 14:20 and Vingegaard at 16:28, with Eulalio going last at 16:31.
A New Bike and a New Chapter
This time trial also marks Segaert’s first competitive test on his new Bianchi time trial bike, an adjustment after years riding Orbea at Lotto. “In training I’m certainly satisfied with it,” Segaert told WielerFlits. “The comfort is good, but we still need to see if it performs in races and if I can put my full power into it. That’s why a long time trial here is simply a good test.”
Segaert’s time trial pedigree is strong. He won a WorldTour time trial in the Benelux Tour two years ago (15.4 km), has collected two silver and one bronze medal at the Belgian National Time Trial Championships, and is a three-time European junior/U23 champion in the discipline.
Looking Ahead
Beyond the time trial, Segaert has identified Stages 12, 13, 15, and 18 as opportunities for breakaway attempts. His 10-day altitude training camp on Mount Teide in Tenerife, undertaken after Paris-Roubaix, is expected to pay dividends in the race’s third week. The Belgian National Time Trial Championships in Maarkedal, four weeks after the Giro, remain his primary season target.
As Sporza noted, the time trial field is relatively thin in top specialists this year — only three riders from the top 20 of last year’s World Championships are present. This opens a significant opportunity for Segaert to make his mark.
“Tapering towards a time trial in a Grand Tour is no sinecure anyway,” Segaert reflected. “I also came here without a well-thought-out ten-day plan. It’s also my first time trial of this year. I’m curious myself.”
With his combination of raw talent, meticulous preparation, and a team that believes in him, Alec Segaert has every reason to be optimistic as he rolls down the start ramp in Viareggio.