Giro d’Italia Preview: The yellow jersey is synonymous with the Tour de France, however many races use the ‘Maillot Jaune’ for his or her total chief. The Giro d’Italia’s ‘Maglia Rosa’ is exclusive and sums up the Italian flare for type. This yr, it’s arduous to see anybody however Tadej Pogačar sporting the pink jersey in Rome on the finish of Could. Right here is the PEZ listing of favourites for the 2024 Giro d’Italia.
*** See the Giro d’Italia ’24 Preview Chat With Chris Horner HERE. ***
*** You’ll be able to see the PEZ ‘Giro Route Preview’ HERE. ***
No.1 ‘Prime Favorite’ – Tadej Pogačar
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates)
Tadej Pogačar is the highest favorite for the Giro’24 winner, very like he has been in most races he begins. None of his essential rivals; Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglič, is not going to be at first of the Giro on Saturday. Nevertheless it’s a protracted highway to Rome and a whole lot of issues can occur; crashes, damage and even covid. After his two Tour de France wins, the Slovenian (and his group) has determined, with some encouragement from the race organisers, to begin the Giro d’Italia for the primary time in 2024.
The UAE Crew Emirates chief, as we all know, is a stunningly gifted rider and has the whole lot wanted to win a three-week stage race and most different races. He’s in all probability the most effective climber within the race, there are not any different GC males who can compete with Pogačar within the time trials and his all-round means is unquestionable. His UAE Crew Emirates hasn’t introduced their greatest squad to Italy, however Mikkel Bjerg, Felix Großschartner, Domen Novak, Rui Oliveira, Vegard Stake Laengen, Juan Sebastián Molano and Rafal Majka has no weak hyperlinks. Novak, Großschartner will help Pogačar within the mountains, with Majka being his final right-hand man on the massive vital climbs. Bjerg, Stake Laengen and Oliveira shall be there for the opposite phases and assist as a lot as they will, however does the Slovenian champion want a brilliant robust group?
Can Geraint Thomas battle Pogačar?
Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers)
On paper, Geraint Thomas might be Tadej Pogačar’s largest challenger. The 37-year-old British rider has been pretty invisible thus far this season, however he is aware of put together himself for his set objectives. The 2018 Tour winner can convey himself to health via his racing, with out showing within the outcomes. This yr the INEOS Grenadiers rider has adopted the identical sample, driving his early races to realize endurance after which fly within the Giro d’Italia. Final yr his outcomes earlier than the Giro weren’t notable, however he got here very near the ultimate victory. The Welshman will once more be preventing for the general win, as he did in 2023, however a podium place is extra life like.
It has been an excellent season thus far for Decathlon AG2R – Can Ben O’Connor proceed?
Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R)
The 28-year-old Australian climber has had an excellent spring: 2nd within the UAE Tour, fifth in Tirreno-Adriatico and 2nd within the Tour of the Alps. A prime place within the Giro d’Italia must be inside his grasp. Additional extra, wanting on the start-list, a podium place could possibly be greater than potential. The chief of the Decathlon AG2R group shouldn’t be a pure climber, however can maintain his personal when the highway goes up. In opposition to the clock he has proven that he gained’t lose an excessive amount of time on the specialists. He completed fourth within the Tour de France in 2021 and eighth within the Vuelta a España 2022. O’Connor has had unhealthy luck with crashes an sickness previously, but when all goes nicely we are able to count on an excellent Giro from the person from Subiaco. “The Giro is 100% the primary purpose of the yr. The Tour of the Alps was my final preparation race, which I additionally needed to win. It was the perfect remaining check earlier than the Giro, the place I already needed to show that I used to be prepared. Afterwards you continue to should hold enhancing, after all, however there may be nothing higher than coming near profitable simply earlier than your essential purpose. That offers confidence, it exhibits that you’re prepared,” he stated in an interview with WielerFlits this week..
Bardet says he’s in prime kind
Romain Bardet (dsm-firmenich PostNL)
Romain Bardet has discovered his greatest legs simply in time for the Italian Grand Tour. He begin 2024 with a third place within the Traditional Var in February after which had top-20 locations within the smaller French races and Strade Bianche, however pulled out of Tirreno-Adriatico. Then in April he took fifth on the ultimate total of the Tour of the Alps and was by no means out of the top-10 on any of the 5 phases. Simply to show a degree he was second in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The Frenchman’s kind is clearly getting into the precise path and he should hope for good ends in Italy. “The Giro would be the large purpose for the primary a part of the season. To this point we’ve accomplished what we needed to do. We belief that we’re doing the precise preparation. We’re going to attempt to take some phases, we’ve got an excellent group to make that occur. However an excellent remaining rating may also be vital,” he stated after the Tour of the Alps.
Dutch hope – Thymen Arensman
Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers)
May Thymen Arensman emulate his Dutch countryman, Tom Dumoulin? The primary Dutchman to win the Giro d’Italia in 2017. The 24-year-old had some good outcomes final yr in stage races; together with sixth within the Giro. This yr Arensman took fifth within the Volta ao Algarve and sixth in Tirreno-Adriatico, however his large purpose of the season is the Giro. He could have the benefit of everybody his group chief, Geraint Thomas, which can take a few of the stress off. He ought to have some quantity of freedom, however might should work for the Welshman, if he’s within the main place.
Daniel Felipe Martínez is on the head of a powerful BORA-hansgrohe Giro group
Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe)
BORA-hansgrohe need’s to win the Tour de France with Primoz Roglič this yr, however the German group additionally has a powerful squad for the Italian tour. Daniel Felipe Martínez would be the chief within the Giro d’Italia, earlier than he rides the Tour to assist Roglič. Martínez beat Remco Evenepoel twice uphill within the Volta ao Algarve, however then had abandon Tirreno-Adriatico with a knee drawback. You possibly can say the 27-year-old climber is inconsistent. Martínez has began 9 Grand Excursions and solely completed within the top-10 as soon as, when he completed fifth within the 2021 Giro behind his teammate Egan Bernal, who had been working for.
May Antonio Tiberi be a Giro shock
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious)
This could possibly be Antonio Tiberi’s alternative to indicate what he can do in a three-week stage race. The 22-year-old Italian of Bahrain Victorious has had a superb season. His eighth place within the robust Tour of Catalonia and third within the Tour of the Alps, simply earlier than the Giro, so the shape is there. The 2019 junior TT World champion can be a prime highway man and his climbing skills have improved in current seasons. He has ridden the Vuelta a España twice, however that is his first Giro d’Italia. He stated “I’m aiming for the highest 5,” however can he deal with three weeks in a GC place?
Is the younger Belgian Cian Uijtdebroeks on the Giro to be taught, or there with ambitions
Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike)
With Wout van Aert lacking from the Giro, the Belgians shall be following the younger hope, Cian Uijtdebroeks. What can we count on from the 21-year-old Belgian in his first Giro? Visma | Lease a Bike doesn’t wish to put an excessive amount of stress on the younger rider and don’t speak about his GC ambitions. However figuring out how meticulous Uijtdebroeks is, he’ll wanting on the total. Final yr within the Vuelta a España he completed eighth in his first Grand Tour, so he has confirmed that he can carry out over three weeks. Uijtdebroeks’ time trialing might let him down.This yr’s Giro doesn’t have a powerful discipline in comparison with earlier editions, this could possibly be good for the ‘Younger Weapons’, like Uijtdebroeks, to trigger an upset or two.
Damiano Caruso – Second within the 2021 Giro, can he be up there once more?
Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious)
Damiano Caruso is now 36-year-old Italian and has a tremendous palmarès. He completed 2nd within the 2021 Giro d’Italia behind Egan Bernal and was 4th final yr. Caruso, together with Tiberi, might save the season for his or her Bahrain Victorious group. Each might take top-10 locations and even a podium place for Caruso, as he’s robust, can climbing and has the power combat for the victory, even when he isn’t one of many first names that come to thoughts.
Juan Pedro López gained the Tour of the Alps final week
Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek)
López gained the Tour of the Alps final week, so we’ve got to contemplate the Lidl-Trek rider for the Giro. López himself stated he had “a shit yr” in 2023, however as we noticed within the Alps, he’s on kind once more. He defended his chief’s jersey from the efforts of Ben O’Connor, Antonio Tiberi and Romain Bardet, all of who shall be within the Giro. López had his breakthrough within the Giro two years in the past, when he wore the pink jersey for over per week and completed tenth total. “I’m in fine condition, however at first I wish to go for stage wins. If an excellent classification comes together with it, the higher, then I’m completely satisfied to take that,” he instructed WielerFlits on the Tour of the Alps.
Eddie Dunbar – With good luck
The Outsiders
These are the ‘Prime Contenders’, however there are fairly just a few others who might not win the ultimate total, however they are going to be hoping to make their mark in Italy. Eddie Dunbar confirmed nicely in final yr’s Giro d’Italia with a remaining seventh place. The Jayco AlUla climber has had a whole lot of crashes and damaged collarbones, however with a little bit of Irish luck he might have an excellent Giro.
Paret-Peintre brothers may also present the Decathlon AG2R jersey
Decathlon AG2R have had an excellent early season and with Ben O’Connor this might proceed in Italy, however the French group additionally has the Paret-Peintre brothers, Aurélien and Valentin, who’s expertise has blossomed this season. Hugh Carthy leads EF Training-EasyPost, nevertheless it has been a very long time since his ninth place within the 2022 Giro. The tall British climber has been concentrating on the Vuelta a España, however he’ll wish to be seen on the mountainous days.
Stage win for Nairo Quintana?
Nairo Quintana is the one earlier winner of the Giro d’Italia who shall be on the beginning line on Saturday. The Colombian Movistar rider has stated he shall be going for stage wins, not the GC and to be trustworthy, his greatest years are behind him. His preparation for the Italian GT has been sporadic with first covid after which accidents. There perhaps flashes of his outdated self, however his teammate, Einer Rubio, might be a greater wager for the Spanish phone group.
Florian Lipowitz might shock as he did in romandie
Additionally value a point out is Florian Lipowitz (BORA-hansgrohe), who was gorgeous within the Tour de Romandie final week. Luke Plapp and Filippo Zana are additionally there for Jayco AlUla, Michael Storer (Tudor) and Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana Qazaqstan). This shall be 41-year-old Domenico Pozzovivo (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè) final Giro, he shall be out to say farewell to his house followers.
Arrivederci Domenico Pozzovivo
The Giro Favourites:
Prime: Tadej Pogačar
Potential: Geraint Thomas, Ben O’Connor
Possibly: Romain Bardet, Thymen Arensman, Daniel Felipe Martínez
Outdoors: Antonio Tiberi, Cian Uijtdebroeks, Damiano Caruso, Juan Pedro López.
* The beginning-list might change earlier than Saturday’s stage 1. *
Prime favorite needs to be Tadej Pogačar
# Keep PEZ for the every day Giro d’Italia stage race studies and all of the information in EUROTRASH Monday and Thursday. #
Due to ProCyclingStats and WielerFlits for the information, figures and rider quotes.
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