5 Italian gems that can make the difference in the Sporza Giromanager

Are you still looking for an Italian rough diamond to complete your Giromanager team? We will give you a helping hand with 5 potential trendsetters in their own home round.

Last year, as a neo-pro, he came several times to sniff out a stage victory in the Giro. This year he aims for eternal glory.

24-year-old Marco Frigo – no relation to doping sinner Dario – will be one of the first names to join the first long flight uphill.

In the Tour of Provence, his attacking spirit was not rewarded at the beginning of this season. Frigo’s 40 kilometer solo died 500 meters from the finish.

Does he put a bottle of prosecco in his fridge during the Giro?

“A sprinter who can tackle climbs that are not too difficult and then gives everything in the sprint.”

This is how Polti-Kometa describes its Italian sprint bomb Giovanni Lonardi.

The pizza-addicted Veronese already served a bunch of top sprinters on his margherita in the 2018 Baby Giro. Lonardi then defeated Philipsen, Dainese and Thijssen, among others.

Lonardi was also allowed to throw a party in the last Tour of Turkey, after Danny van Poppel’s declassification.

Does the sprint-fast Italian also let his bosses Contador and Basso coo with joy in the Giro?

He has the same manager as Tadej Pogacar and the same first name as the last Italian mountain king in the Giro.

Giulio Pellizzari only had to acknowledge his superiority in Isaac del Toro in last year’s Tour of the Future. And look where the Mexican thoroughbred already stands among the pros.

With the 20-year-old Pellizzari, growth will be a bit slower and steady. But his 8th place in the Tour of The Alps leaves one hoping for the best.

“But we have to be honest: the Tour of The Alps is not the Giro. The level is a lot higher there,” says the modest Italian, who has one big goal in the coming weeks. “Winning a stage.”

The colorful EF team is looking forward to Andrea Piccolo’s tricks.

The 23-year-old Italian wore the leader’s jersey for 1 day in the Vuelta last year. He dreams of winning the day in his first Giro.

“Andrea is a rider for the Ardennes classics and is also quick to the finish,” said sports director Matti Breschel. “He has the necessary dose of creativity.”

All ingredients to successfully complete a long escape.

At EF Education-EasyPost they plan to regularly send Piccoli on the offensive. A potential point gun?

At Polti-Kometa, in addition to the Bais brothers, they have another young Italian who will take the offensive.

Davide Piganzoli already triumphed this year on a very steep final climb (9% average) in the Tour of Antalya.

In the Giro warm-up Tour of The Alps, the 21-year-old Italian confirmed with a 10th place in the final classification.

“I will be happy if I win a stage in this Giro. Preferably the one with the finish in Livigno, because my girlfriend Margherita lives nearby,” the climbing talent reveals in La Gazzetta dello Sport.