LIVE GIRO. Andiamo! The Giro has started, will top favorite Pogacar immediately release its devils?

Cian Uijtdebroeks “is eager” for his second participation in the Giro. “There is always a special atmosphere in the Giro, there is something magical about it. The opening stage has a tricky final with a climb of one and a half kilometers at a gradient of ten percent. You have to pay attention there, because you never know with Tadej Pogacar. If he feels good, he can already go on the Colle Maddalena, but of course it remains a three-week race. That’s why I don’t expect him until the very last climb and then we just have to be at the appointment.”

Uijtdebroeks also expects men like Julian Alaphilippe and Quinten Hermans. “I think the slightly heavier men will be out, but the punchers also want to take the pink jersey. In any case, it will be a big battle.”

Tomorrow/Sunday another uphill finish awaits on the Oropa, the diptych of a very tough opening weekend. “That may not be a bad thing, because because the classification is already somewhat fixed, there will be less nervousness in the peloton in the coming days. We indeed don’t get much time to get into it, it’s full steam ahead right away. I feel I’m fine with it, but of course it remains the course. Then the feeling is always different than during training, so you are never completely sure where you stand.” (sj)