One against all, but that one will win. Because never before has the prediction, at least that one, for the Giro d’Italia been monothematic like this year. Proposals other than Tadej Pogacar will not be accepted, even if there is no shortage of alternatives starting today from Venaria. But the Slovenian champion’s list of successes and form, finally crystallized by his solitary ride in Liège-Bastogne-Liège two weeks ago, mean that we shouldn’t look elsewhere.
It would be the most important name in the Roll of Honor after Vincenzo Nibali’s brace and above all a good driving force for the future, if he manages to achieve a double with the Tour de France. In conclusion the last one was Marco Pantani and 26 years have passed, so we can deal with it. Tadej’s goal is not so much to close the accounts, but to do it quickly and save energy in view of the Grande Boucle which will start from Florence at the end of June. For this reason, UAE Team Emirates has supported him with important elements such as Rafal Majka, Mikkel Bjerg and Domen Novak who will help him in the mountains.
In an ideal starting grid, who will be on the front row with him? The safe second hand, that is Romain Bardet (Team Dsm-firmenich PostNL). The French expert declared on the eve that he will live every day of the Giro as if it were a classic and he knows well how to race for the ranking. Exactly like Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa Team) who start a step below. It doesn’t end here, but in fact the others can aspire to the role of outsiders. He teases the name of the 21-year-old Dutch talent Cian Uijtdebroeks (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) who, however, has never participated in such a tiring and tactical race. And then Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA – Hansgrohe), Hugh Carthy (EF Education – EasyPost) and Juan Pedro López (Lidl – Trek).
But there is also a bit of Italy, or at least there are marketable names. Like the Bahrain couple – Victorius formed by Damiano Caruso and Antonio Tiberi, the old and the new guard. «It’s almost sad to admit that we all start out beaten. But we know very well that in a three-week race there can be many variables and therefore starting already defeated is wrong because you never know what could happen during the race”, said Caruso a few hours before the start. We’re also competing against Milan (Lidl-Trek) in the sprints, challenged by sprinters like Fabio Jakobsen and Caleb Ewan, and we’re aiming for other youngsters like Tiberi, like Giulio Pellizzari and Enrico Zanoncello of VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè.
The only word that counts, as usual, will be given by the road already in the three Piedmont stages. Turin to crown the first pink jersey, Oropa to shake up the rankings, Fossano for the sprinters. In the first full week, the Perugia time trial stands out, almost 40 km and a slight uphill finish, and the Abruzzo climb to Prati di Tivo which will offer no discounts. In the second, the other time trial in Desenzano and the big stage in Livigno which also includes the Mortirolo and the Passo di Foscagno stand out. The last six days are devastating: towards Santa Cristina di Valgardena there will be the Stelvio as Cima Coppi, then the arrival at the Brocon Pass for the real Dolomite stage with Sella and Rolle, finally the Alpago-Bassano del Grappa with the double ascent on Monte Grappa. The road to get from Venaria to Rome promises to be tortuous.
