The Brit finished a solid ninth on the second stage.
Corsa Rosa continued Saturday afternoon with a 13.7km individual time trial held on the streets of Tirana, the fast course – that featured just a small climb – borrowing many of the opening stage’s flat roads.
Despite being among the early starters, Ethan Hayter concluded in the top ten thanks to a strong ride that saw the former British Champion set the provisional fastest time at both the checkpoint and the finish after a blistering ride. Hayter remained in the hot seat for a good chunk of time, before other riders improved his time, one of these being Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), who won the stage. In the end, the 26-year-old – who stopped the clock in 16:21 – finished in ninth place for his second top ten of the season, after the one on the opening day of the Itzulia Basque Country.
“I can be content with my effort. Top ten on the second stage of my second Grand Tour is a good result and it gives me a lot of confidence for the next three weeks. We’ll see what we can do, but me and the boys are ready to give our best”, Ethan said after the race.
In the general classification, Mattia Cattaneo is the best placed Soudal Quick-Step rider ahead of the final stage on Albanian soil, which will take the peloton on a 160km loop around Vlorë, the country’s third-largest city.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
