Monday April 29, 2024 at 6:33 PM
The start of the 107th edition of the Giro d’Italia is just around the corner. Do you want to make this Giro even more fun? Then play with WielerFlits Team Leader together with your friends. To help you get started with the tough choices in this game, put CyclingFlits the ambitions of the leaders at a glance.
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates) – 20 points
It won’t come as a surprise to anyone. Tadej Pogacar comes to the Giro d’Italia to win the final classification. With fresh legs and several major spring victories under his belt, the Slovenian superstar heads to Turin La Grande Partenza. The all-rounder and his team come for nothing other than a final victory. Although, according to team boss Mauro Gianetti, he should try to save himself a little for this summer’s Tour de France, where possible.
Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) – 17 points
Although many expected a duel between Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic last year, the Slovenian had to battle it out with the tough Geraint Thomas. The Briton lost his pink leader’s jersey on the penultimate day, but is looking for revenge this year. Although the aero bullet from Schepdaal and Roglic, which has moved to BORA-hansgrohe, will not be at the start this year, the job will not be any easier. He is competing against that other Slovenian, who Thomas recently placed on the same level as Eddy Merckx.
“My preparation went well and I feel good ahead of the start. We have a strong team and there is a good atmosphere within this group. The core is the same as last year’s Giro team, with some great additions for this year. We spent a lot of time together at training camp and know what we need to do. We are all very motivated to get the job done and perform,” said Thomas at the team site.
Thymen Arensman (INEOS Grenadiers) – 14 points
One of these guys from last year’s Giro team is Thymen Arensman. He is also present again this year. The number six from last edition will initially return to Italy as a master servant for Thomas, the team said. However, it cannot be ruled out that Arensman will finish high in the rankings again this year. To beat Pogacar, INEOS Grenadiers will probably have to have several irons in the fire.
Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike) – 12 points
It will take some getting used to for many cycling followers: Visma | Lease a Bike shifts the main focus during the Giro d’Italy to stage victories instead of the final classification. The team that won the first three-week round last year with Roglic, now travels to Italy with fast men such as Olav Kooij and Christophe Laporte. Still, Cian Uijtdebroeks will see where he can end up in the rankings. The young Belgian has already been able to watch two-time Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard up close a few times this year and can now explore for himself how far he can go.
What can Thymen Arensman do? – photo: Cor Vos
Juan Pedro López (Lidl-Trek) – 11 points
In the run-up to the Giro d’Italia, Juan Pedro López surprisingly managed to win the final classification in the Tour of the Alps. The Spaniard from Lidl-Trek has already ridden in the pink jersey for ten days in the past, but few cycling experts see him as a favorite for the overall victory. The team leaders of the American formation say that López will mainly go for stage victories, but that they will look day by day at what is possible in the general classification.
Daniel Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe) – 11 points
In 2022, the German formation managed to win the final classification in the three-week Italian round, this year the goal is to finish as high as possible. “We want to achieve a top-5 finish in the general classification with Daniel Martínez. He performed very well at the start of the season and apart from the crash at Strade Bianche, his build up to the Giro has been solid. He has trained very well in Colombia and we are optimistic that he will be in the mix for a good place in the general classification,” said sporting director Enrico Gasparotto.
Damiano Caruso (Bahrain Victorious) – 11 points
He has already finished second in ‘his’ Grand Tour and this year Damiano Caruso is also aiming for a good result in the general classification. However, the Italian is not the only leader of his team during the Giro. The experienced climber shares a room with Antonio Tiberi and wants to achieve success in their home country together with his younger compatriot.
Caruso on the 2021 Giro podium with Bernal and Simon Yates – photo: Cor Vos
Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) – 11 points
Just like last year, Eddie Dunbar will once again be present during the upcoming Giro d’Italia. Last year, the Jayco AlUla climber finished seventh in the final rankings and he would like to improve that this year. “I’m looking forward to returning to the Giro and trying to match or even improve on last year’s good result. My preparation was quite good, maybe not quite as good as last year, but it will be nice to fight again in the Giro,” he says on the team website.
Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich-PostNL) – 11 points
Although Team DSM-firm PostNL travels to Italy with Fabio Jakobsen and his lead-out, a place has also been reserved in the aircraft for Romain Bardet. The plan for the French climber is clear. “We also aim to achieve the best possible final classification with Romain, while also looking for opportunities to fight for stage wins and top results on hilly and mountainous terrain,” the team website reads.
Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) – 7 points
He came third in the Tour of the Alps and showed that he can handle it well on Italian soil. Yet Antonio Tiberi has not yet been able to test himself often in a three-week round. “I am working hard to become a good classification rider. That is my goal in the future, but of course I will do my best to succeed in the Giro. I’m trying to aim for the top 5. Even though I know it won’t be easy,” he said in front of our camera.
