Giro d'Italia: 5 Germans, 4 Austrians & 3 Swiss

Cycling: The 103rd Giro d'Italia starts in Monreale on Saturday. Among others, 5 Germans, 4 Austrians and 3 Swiss will be at the start of this Tour of Italy. We present their tasks and goals in more detail.

Germany: helper services – or is there more?

As the only German-speaking professional denies Tony Martin after the Tour de France also the Giro d'Italia. His role will hardly change. While he was in France for Primoz Roglic at the head of the main field, he is now doing it in Italy for Steven Kruijswijk. The German can only pursue his own ambitions in a time trial, or as a breakaway on a maximum of one stage – should he be given the freedom to do so. The same applies to teammates Christopher Pentecost.

And the other Germans from other teams will also be used primarily as helpers at the Giro d'Italia 2020. Marco Mathis can keep up the pace for his sprinter Elia Viviani on the level and thus prepare a mass sprint and make it possible in the first place. The same applies to Rick Zabel. The son of the former top sprinter Erik Zabel will help Rudy Barbier and Davide Cimolai with the sprint arrivals and maybe even get the sprint started himself. The most exciting personality could once again be at the Giro d'Italia Nico Denz become. The German came close to winning a stage two years ago. Does it work this time? In Team Sunweb he should enjoy freedom as soon as Michael Matthews is no longer in the running for the day's win.

Marco Mathis (Cofidis)
Rick Zabel (Israel Start Up Nation)
Tony Martin (Jumbo – Visma)
Christoph Pfingsten (Jumbo – Visma)
Nico Denz (Sunweb)

Also at the Giro d'Italia we will often see Tony Martin in action as a locomotive.

Austria: Surprise in the mountains possible

Again, Bora - hansgrohe provides the most Austrians. This time they are allowed Patrick Conrad and Patrick Gamper prove. While the former can certainly be expected to win a stage in the mountains, we expect the latter to be better on the flat. There, the 23-year-old will support Peter Sagan. Patrick Konrad is active in the mountains for Rafal Majka as a noble helper, but he can definitely get involved in a breakaway group from time to time with liberties.

same is Herman Pernsteiner to trust. Should his captain Pello Bilbao give him the go, the 30-year-old can surprise from a breakaway group. Its strengths lie in the high mountains. If he catches the right escape group and the competition doesn't have him on the slip, his moment of glory could come. Also Matthias Brandle can win a stage. The strong time trialist will be an important driver for the Israel Start-Up Nation. In the fight against the clock, he is one of the winning candidates. He can definitely enrich a breakaway on flat stages. For the Austrians as a whole, it looks like Giro d'Italia 2020 so very promising.

Herman Pernsteiner (Bahrain-McLaren)
Patrick Gamper (Bora – hansgrohe)
Patrick Konrad (Bora – hansgrohe)
Matthias Brändle (Israel Start-Up Nation)

Patrick Konrad was already in action at the Giro d'Italia. He can shine as a helper and breakaway in the high mountains.

Switzerland: Active in breakaway groups

We are only allowed three Swiss at the Tour of Italy watch 2020. These are probably only really known to real cycling connoisseurs. Simon Pellaud for example, has never ridden the Giro or the Tour before. However, he has already taken part in the Vuelta twice. As a good climber, he will present the colors of the Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec wildcard team on tough offensive stages. Kilian Frankiny could be seen there right there with him in the same group. Because he too will get a free ticket from the sports directors of his team Groupama – FDJ in the mountains. On the flat, however, the entire team focuses on sprinter Arnaud Démare. Team NTT would like to have such a strong sprinter in their own ranks. Instead, the team, which will probably be disbanded at the end of the season, can only flee forward. Danilo Wyss is suitable for a group on flat stages as he is considered a fast man.