The 2024 edition of the Giro Next Gen will start tomorrow from Aostaorganized by RCS Sport on behalf of the Italian Cycling Federation, with an 8.8 km individual time trial. There will be 174 runnerscoming from all over the world, ready to do battle in a race that offers opportunities for glory to all types of runners. Many names to follow for an edition that appears truly unpredictable.
The favourites
The hunt for the successor of Johannes Staune Mittet can start from his Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development, which will field a very interesting team at the start, including the winner of the Ronde de l’Isard, Darren Van Bekkumthe ninth place winner of the 2023 edition, Tijmen Graatand the young Norwegian Jørgen Nordaghen, one of the hot names for the Maglia Bianca. Among the most anticipated riders are also Mathys Rondel, Killian Verschuren, Max Van der Meulen, Wouter Toussaint, Diego Pescador, Ilkhan Dostiyev, Josè Muniz and two riders from the class of 2005, and therefore in contention for the Maglia Bianca, Jarno Widar and Leo Bisiaux. The greatest Italian hopes for the general classification are Alessandro Pinarellosecond in the Tour of Antalya among professionals, Florian Kajamini, winner of two races this season, and Ludovico Crescioli, recently fourth at the Ronde de l’Isard. Among the Sicilians however it will be Andrea Brunor, called up to the national team led by sporting director Paolo Tiralongo.
The stage hunters
The Giro Next Gen offers a varied route which will adapt every day to different types of runners. Among the fast men, the most accredited are Tim Torn Teutenbergwhich has four seasonal victories including the Paris-Roubaix Espoirs, Daniel Skerlwinner of three races, and the class of 2005 Steffen De Schuyteneertwo victories in his first season as an Under 23. Also worth mentioning are Rasmus Pedersen, Robert Donaldson, Kasper Andersen, Andrea D’Amato and Lorenzo Conforti. We will see many runners suited to hilly routes at the start such as the Frenchmen Paul Magnier and Noa Isidore, both capable of winning among professionals, and Alessandro Romele, winner of the Povegliano stage in 2023. Other riders to follow are Matthew Brennan, Huub Artz, Luke Tuckwell, Pavel Novak, Milan Donie, Alastair Mackellar, Mathieu Kockelmann, e among the Italians Edoardo Zamperini, Simone Gualdi, Filippo D’Aiuto, Manuel Oioli and Niccolò Arrighetti. Among the riders who will compete for the Maglia Rosa against the clock tomorrow in Aosta are Jakob Söderqvist, Aivaras Mikutis, Fabian Weiss and Oscar Chamberlain.
The first step
In the meantime, the wait is for tomorrow, when the first stage will start in Aosta: a short and very fast time trialespecially when departing and arriving, but with a challenging climb in the central section, just over 1 km long with gradients exceeding 10%. The final stage is straight, the last kilometer is flat, with a final bend 250 m from the finish line.
