Giro d'Italia favourites: Remco, Roglic and the 3 underdogs

Giro d'Italia 2023 favorites: the experts agree. Remco Evenepoel is the big favorite to win the Giro d'Italia overall. Only Primoz Roglic can be dangerous to him. But behind them lurk three dangerous challengers who feel comfortable in the role of underdogs.

Remco Evenepoel: Rainbow Jersey or Maglia Rosa?

The world champion comes to Italy. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick-Step) made a conscious decision not to compete in the Tour de France this year. Not only does he avoid a fight with Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar, he also opts for the better route profile. Better for him, because with three time trials the Belgian is the 106rd Giro d'Italia perfect. One would almost like to say: it is tailor-made for him. It is therefore not surprising that he is the big favorite for almost all experts. Last year he won the Vuelta a Espana. That season he triumphed at the UAE Tour and again at Liege - Bastogne - Liege. His driving continues to be impressive. However, the Giro d'Italia is another house number. Especially the last week has it all. By then he should have saved up a lead if the race went normally, because the two flat time trials within the first nine days clearly speak for him.

Primoz Roglic: His time is up? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that!

After the Tour de France 2022, not a few fans and experts thought that the heyday of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo – Visma) was over. But they were wrong. He already showed at the Vuelta a Espana that he is far from finished. The Slovenian will be back in 2023. He won Tirreno – Adriatico and the Tour of Catalonia – by the way ahead of Remco Evenepoel, whom he defeated in a direct duel. Roglic not only proved that he is physically able to keep the Belgian in check, but above all mentally. When the two favorites tried to stand, Roglic remained calm. Experience also speaks for him at the Giro d'Italia. His team is stronger too. In the uphill he will beat Evenepoel. If the form structure is right and he doesn't lose too much in the time trial, he could make the duel close.

Geraint Thomas: The Brit's great bluff

If we look at this year's results for Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), we see nothing. At least we are not seeing good results. 14th place on the final stage of the Tour of the Alps was his best result. So why is the Brit still one of the Giro d'Italia favourites? Probably because hardly anyone buys his poor form. We sense a bluff – and a huge one at that. Because last year, Geraint Thomas also seemed rather weak for long stretches. Then he came to the Tour de France and easily finished third behind Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar. The now 36-year-old can be expected to do something similar at the Giro d'Italia. The flat time trials within the first nine days put him in a good position. In week three he then uses all his experience. With a strong team at his side, Geraint Thomas can mercilessly exploit his opponents' weaknesses in the final stages. At least that's his plan. If this goes wrong, you simply build on Tao Geoghegan Hart with Ineos Grenadiers. After all, he has won the Giro d'Italia before.

Joao Almeida: We are looking for consistency for three weeks

Joao Almeida (UAE) has everything a good classification driver needs. He is fast uphill, good at time trials and recovering well. What the Portuguese has been missing so far is the three-week consistency. The 24-year-old finished on the podium in Tirreno – Adriatico and the Tour of Catalonia. But a three-week tour of the country is a whole different challenge, especially when the highlights come in the third week. So far he has finished in the top six three times in four Grand Tour participations. He was often at the forefront, but always had a bad day in the mountains. If everything goes as usual, he will have it again in the third week. If not, he's a contender for the podium - or maybe even more.

Aleksandr Vlasov: The peak of form is in the third week

The year 2023 has so far been anything but satisfactory for Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora – hansgrohe). Again and again the Russian suffered health setbacks in particular. He hasn't really been able to show what he's really made of for a long time. Now he starts in the Tour of Italy, without even knowing exactly where he is. But that can also be an advantage, because while the two top favorites are already acting at a high level and have to save their form until the third week, Vlasov could set off his fireworks with a steadily improving form exactly when the opponents are in their weak phase . Then a place on the podium is possible – and nothing else but that has to be his goal. Because on the one hand Bora - hansgrohe is the defending champion and on the other hand Vlasov himself was fourth two years ago. In the previous season he was fifth in the Tour de France. Now the podium must finally come at a Grand Tour.