Giro d'Italia: Giro d'Italia 2019: 8 Germans, 3 Swiss & 2 Austrians

Cycling: The start list for the 2019 Giro d'Italia is complete. On Saturday, eight Germans, three Swiss, and two Austrians will tackle the first Grand Tour of the year. Most of the German-speaking professionals face three tough weeks as support riders. Our hopes for a stage win rest primarily on two German riders. Below, we take a look at all 13 listed professionals and explain their roles.

Pascal Ackermann with chances of winning in the mass sprint

A total of eight Germans will start the 2019 Giro d'Italia in Bologna on Saturday. We can expect realistic chances of victory, at least up to stage 11. With Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe), German fans are cheering on one of the strongest sprinters in the peloton. So, as long as the stages remain flat, it's worth keeping your fingers crossed for the German champion. However, expectations shouldn't be set too high, as this is Pascal Ackermann's first Grand Tour. It's quite possible he'll abandon after stage 11. After that, the terrain becomes extremely mountainous, leaving only one real chance for the sprinters.

Which stage would you like to have, Mr. Denz?

Even though the 2019 Giro d'Italia will be a bit hillier, the Germans aren't entirely without a chance of victory. Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) proved last year that he can finish challenging stages near the front. Stages 6 and 7, in particular, should suit him. After several bunch sprints in the early days, there's a chance a breakaway group could make it through. With exceptionally strong legs, Nico Denz could also target stages 12, 15, and 17. Stage 18 will only be interesting if the strongest sprinters have already dropped back. Either way, Nico Denz has plenty of options. Which stage would you like to win, Mr. Denz?

German duel in the sprint preparation: Kluge vs. Schwarzmann & Selig

Besides Nico Denz and Pascal Ackermann, the other six German starters are of course also capable of winning a stage at the Giro d'Italia. Their quality is certainly there, otherwise they wouldn't have been selected at all. However, the following riders were primarily chosen for crucial support roles. Michael Schwarzmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Rüdiger Selig (Bora-Hansgrohe) are mainly responsible for Pascal Ackermann's lead-out train. If they perform well, the German champion's chances of victory will increase dramatically. Roger Kluge (Lotto-Soudal) has the same task – but for his Australian rival, Caleb Ewan. This duo is easily recognizable due to their different heights. At 1,93 m (6'4"), Roger Kluge can provide ample shelter from the wind for his sprint captain, Caleb Ewan, who is only 1,65 m (5'5"). In the mass sprints, Roger Kluge will be the last man ahead of lead-out man Jasper De Buyst.

Sütterlin, Knees & Martens support their class drivers

Jasha Sütterlin (Movistar), Christian Knees (Ineos), and Paul Martens (Jumbo-Visma) have somewhat different tasks. Their teams lack sprinters, so they're focusing on the general classification. Jasha Sütterlin will be seen whenever he needs to support Mikel Landa and Richard Carapaz. Since the Spanish team is very mountain-oriented overall, Jasha Sütterlin can almost be considered a super-domestique on the flats. The German hopes for good results in the three time trials. Paul Martens, on the other hand, isn't quite so alone as a domestique on the flats. Together with Jos van Emden and Tom Leezer, he will be the most important rider for captain Primož Roglič on flat stages. Even when the terrain gets a bit hillier, the Slovenian can rely on Paul Martens' dependable support. Christian Knees has a very special role to fulfill this year. In his 20th Grand Tour, the 38-year-old will be primarily needed as a mentor. Without him, Ineos' squad has an average age of just over 23. He, too, will be seen particularly often on flat stages.

#Giro102 @TeamINEOS 👍 pic.twitter.com/tFHJYrcaUl

— Tao Geoghegan Hart (@taogeoghegan) May 7, 2019

Stage winners from Switzerland and Austria are unlikely

The Swiss and Austrians are not heavily represented at the 2019 Giro d'Italia with three and two riders respectively. Accordingly, it should be difficult to win a stage. None of the five registered drivers is eligible for the classification jerseys either. Instead, they are needed in their teams as helpers. Like the German pros, they are mainly seen on flat terrain.

Hardly any freedom for the 5 Austrians and Swiss

Swiss rider Danilo Wyss (Dimension Data) can be deployed on flat stages as a helper for sprinter Giacomo Nizzolo or as a protector for general classification contender Ben O'Connor. His compatriot Reto Hollenstein and Austrian Marco Haller play a similar role in Team Katusha-Alpecin. They are crucial support for team leader Ilnur Zakarin on the approach to the mountains and can also set up a strong sprint for Enrico Battaglin. Swiss rider Tom Bohli (UAE Team Emirates) has also been nominated for sprint preparation. He is tasked with perfectly positioning captain Fernando Gaviria and his lead-out man Juan Sebastian Molano. Austrian Michael Gogl perhaps enjoys the greatest freedom in Team Trek-Segafredo. While the team management relies on Bauke Mollema in the mountains and sprinter Matteo Moschetti on the flats, we will certainly see Michael Gogl in a breakaway group at some point on slightly hilly terrain.