The Giro d’Italia is set to kick off with a bang, boasting a star-studded lineup. Four of the last six winners are back, along with a fifth former champion. The big name missing is Tadej Pogacar, the 2024 winner who dominated the race.
The Favorites
Primoz Roglic, the 2023 winner, is the top contender. The 35-year-old Slovenian rider is back with the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team, looking strong after a solid season. He’s surrounded by a talented team, including Jay Hindley, the 2022 winner, and Daniel Martinez, who finished second last year. Roglic’s experience and skill make him a serious threat.
Juan Ayuso, a 22-year-old Spanish rider, is Roglic’s main rival. Ayuso is leading the UAE Emirates team, alongside Adam Yates. The young rider has impressed this season and is eager to make a mark on the Giro. His team is packed with talent, featuring Jay Vine, Brandon McNulty, and Rafal Majka.
Other Contenders
Other riders to watch include Egan Bernal, the 2021 winner, and Richard Carapaz, who won in 2019. Bernal is back with the Ineos Grenadiers team, looking to bounce back from a tough 2022 season. Carapaz, riding for EF Education-EasyPost, is always a dark horse, having come close to winning again in 2022.
Wout van Aert, a Belgian superstar, is making his Giro debut with Visma-Lease a Bike. He’s not targeting the overall win but is looking to snag stage victories and possibly the points jersey. Van Aert has been dealing with health issues, so it’ll be interesting to see how he performs.
Mikel Landa, a 35-year-old Spanish rider, is another rider with a chance of winning. He’s leading the Soudal Quick-Step team and has the talent to succeed, but his weakness in time trials could be a problem.
A New Face
Afonso Eulálio, a 23-year-old Portuguese rider, is making his Grand Tour debut with Bahrain Victorious. Eulálio is thrilled to be riding at this level and is focused on learning and supporting his team leader, Antonio Tiberi. He’s looking to gain experience and maybe even make a few breakaways.
The Giro d’Italia gets underway with 184 riders from 23 teams. The route includes 21 stages, with a mix of flat and mountainous terrain. The race starts in Albania and makes its way through Italy, with a rest day in between. The final stage is a flat ride into Rome.
Key stages to watch include the opening stage in Albania, the time trial on stage 2, and the mountain stages in the second week. The route is designed to challenge the riders, with plenty of opportunities for attacks and breakaways.
Here are the stages:
- May 9: Stage 1, Durrës to Tirana, Albania, 160 km
- May 10: Stage 2, Tirana time trial, 13.7 km
- May 11: Stage 3, Vlorë to Vlorë, Albania, 160 km
- May 13: Stage 4, Alberobello to Lecce, 189 km
- May 14: Stage 5, Ceglie Messapica to Matera, 151 km
- May 15: Stage 6, Potenza to Naples, 227 km
- May 16: Stage 7, Castel di Sangro to Tagliacozzo, 168 km
- May 17: Stage 8, Giulianova to Castelraimondo, 197 km
- May 18: Stage 9, Gubbio to Siena, 181 km
- May 20: Stage 10, Lucca to Pisa time trial, 28.6 km
- May 21: Stage 11, Viareggio to Castelnovo Ne’ Monti, 186 km
- May 22: Stage 12, Modena to Viadana, 172 km
- May 23: Stage 13, Rovigo to Vicenza, 180 km
- May 24: Stage 14, Treviso to Gorizia, Slovenia, 195 km
- May 25: Stage 15, Fiume Veneto to Asiago, 219 km
- May 27: Stage 16, Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino, 203 km
- May 28: Stage 17, San Michele all’Adige to Bormio, 155 km
- May 29: Stage 18, Morbegno to Cesano Maderno, 144 km
- May 30: Stage 19, Biella to Champoluc, 166 km
- May 31: Stage 20, Verrès to Sestriere, 205 km
- June 1: Stage 21, Rome to Rome, 143 km
The Giro d’Italia is shaping up to be an epic battle, with a mix of experienced riders and young guns vying for the top spot. The race promises to be exciting, with a challenging route and talented riders. Who will come out on top?