Cycling: The Tour of Italy begins on Friday. The start list is not yet complete. Nevertheless, we are already looking at the Giro d'Italia favorites - and counting 6 names that should make up the fight for overall victory.
Richard CarapazIneos Grenadiers
As the overall winner from 2019, Richard Carapaz must be considered the top favourite. The Ecuadorian won a stage of the Tour of Catalonia this year and last year he was Olympic champion in the road race - and he was absolutely sovereign. Since last year's winner Egan Bernal cannot take part, Ineos Grenadiers will concentrate fully on Carapaz. Known as a strong climber, he has also improved greatly in time trials. With a strong team behind him, overall victory will only go through him. So when we talk about the Giro d'Italia favourites, Richard Carapaz has to be the first to think of in 2022.
João Almeida (UAE)
Joao Almeida is one of the climbers of the past two years. The Portuguese finished fourth at the Giro d'Italia in 2020. Last year he fell to sixth place. He also has top 10 results at Tirreno – Adriatico, UAE Tour and Tour of Catalonia, as well as overall wins in Poland and Luxembourg. Without a doubt, Joao Almeida is one of the Giro d'Italia favourites. Also because he is considered a strong time trialist and can rely on a good team. If he has learned something crucial from the past two years, he will fight for the Maglia Rosa to the end.
Simon Yates (BikeExchange – Jayco)
It's been four years since Simon Yates dominated the Giro d'Italia at will. The Australian won three stages and comfortably led the overall standings – up until the 19th stage. Then three days before the end he broke down in such a way that he lost more than 39 minutes. In the end he was only 21. This experience matured him, because only a few months later he won the Vuelta a Espana with a much more defensive strategy, so that he didn't run out of breath just before the end. Last year he was third at the Giro d'Italia. Nevertheless, he still has a score to settle with the Tour of Italy. He wants overall victory and the chances of that in 2022 are not bad at all. Second in Paris – Nice, he already proved his good condition. His only problem is his rather weak team.
Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana)
After a year at Movistar, Miguel Angel Lopez is back at Astana. However, it is unclear whether he has found his way back to his old strength. The Colombian has been one of the strongest climbers in the peloton for years. However, thanks to his weakness in time trials and tactical mistakes, he was not able to make the big leap. Although a third place in Spain and Italy are actually top results, you can't shake the feeling that Miguel Angel Lopez actually has the potential to be a Grand Tour winner. The few time trial kilometers come in handy for him at the Giro d'Italia 2022. He can also build on a strong team. Now it's up to him to finally perform consistently well over three weeks. Then he can still succeed with the really big hit.
Tom Dumoulin (Jumbo – Visma)
Tom Dumoulin is back too. The Dutchman has been driving for Jumbo - Visma since 2022, but took a break of several months last year. Now he wants to go back to the top of the world. This season, however, he has not yet been able to convince with good results. It is therefore questionable whether he can be in top form in time for the Giro d'Italia. He definitely has what it takes to be a favourite. After all, he won the Tour in 2017. A year later he finished second in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. However, the way back is not easy. Every time trial kilometer suits him. However, since the profile as a whole tends to benefit mountain riders, Tom Dumoulin is probably more of an outsider.
Romain Bardet (DSM)
Romain Bardet is also working on a comeback, even though he was never really away. But the Frenchman has had difficult years. Until 2019 he was still one of the best classification drivers in the world, but in 2020 and 2021 he hardly achieved any good results. But now he's back. With ninth place at the UAE Tour, twelfth place at Tirreno – Adriatico and his overall victory at the Tour of the Alps, he suddenly catapulted himself back onto the list of co-favourites. At the age of 31, with all his experience, he might still be able to achieve a really big triumph. As a five-time top 10 rider in the Tour de France, he is definitely capable of the podium at the Giro d'Italia.