Cycling: The Giro d'Italia 2024 begins on Saturday. There are 107 teams and therefore 22 riders at the start of the 176th edition of the Tour of Italy. We look at the nominees and their goals.
UAE Team Emirates
No expert doubts that Tadej pogacar will win the Giro d'Italia on his first participation. His own team also seems to feel safe. Because the Slovenian didn't have the top drivers to help him. We look in vain for Adam Yates, Juan Ayuso, Isaac del Toro, Joao Almeida, Brandon McNulty or Marc Soler among the nominees. Nevertheless, Tadej Pogacar will have a strong team at his disposal. In the high mountains it relies primarily on the support of Felix Grossschartner and Rafal Mayka can build. At the same time, the UAE Team Emirates would like to have a say in the sprints. Juan Sebastián Molano should be on the flat stages of Rui Oliveira be driven perfectly into position. The line-up is completed by Mikkel Bjerg, Vegard Stake Laengen and Domen Novak.
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Visma – Lease a Bike
Team Visma – Lease a Bike doesn’t just play one card either. Cian Uijtdebroeks should make life difficult for top favorite Tadej Pogacar. He is supported by Attila Valter, Robert Gesink and Jan Tratnik. Olav Kooij should sprint for stage wins on flat stages. With Christophe Laporte he has probably the best rider of the entire Giro d'Italia at his side. Edward Affini and Tim van Dijke can bring the two of them forward in the last few kilometers. All in all, it is also noticeable at Visma – Lease a Bike that the absolute top riders are not there. Wout van Aert actually announced a start, but unfortunately had to cancel due to his fall injuries. If Uijtdebroek's card doesn't work, the Dutch team has no alternative classification driver.
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Ineos Grenadiers
The British team Ineos Grenadiers can have a multi-track approach to the GC at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. With Geraint Thomas we have last year's runner-up with us, who, at almost 38 years old, has a wealth of experience. Alternatively, you can go to someone who is almost 14 years younger Thymen Arensmann be set. The Dutchman has already finished sixth in the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d'Italia. More jokers could Tobias Foss and Magnus Sheffield be. Both have not yet been able to convince in the GC during three-week country tours, but both have set this standard for themselves in the past and will not have lost sight of this. Filippo Gana and Jhonathan Narvaez Their strengths are more on the flat and are always good for a stage win. The Italian in particular can secure daily victories through the two time trials. The cousins Connor Swift and Ben Swift will primarily have to provide helper services. The latter could also try his luck in a sprint due to his top speed and experience.
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Bora-hansgrohe
The German racing team Bora – hansgrohe is also betting everything on the Tour de France this year. The new addition can therefore be a captain at the Giro d'Italia 2024 Daniel Felipe Martinez prove. After a very weak season, the 28-year-old has found his way back to his old form in 2023 - at least that's what one hopes. As co-captain could Florian Lipowitz get a chance. However, it is also entirely possible that the German, who is only 23 years old, will continue to be developed carefully and do not want to put this pressure on him yet. In any case, they would both get help in the mountains Giovanni Aleotti and Maximilian schachmann receive. The line-up is completed by Jonas Koch, Ryan Mullen, Patrick Gamper and Danny van Poppel. The last-mentioned Dutchman could take part in the mass sprints and fight for daily victories. Unfortunately, Emanuel Buchmann, who according to his own statement was promised the role of co-captain, is not there at all - exciting topic.
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Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
With Ben O'Connor The Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale team has a strong GC rider in its lineup. The Australian has already won stages at the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia. He also finished fourth overall in France in 2021. There is a lot to be expected from him, also because he has already shown this season that he has even taken another step forward. With the brothers Aurélien Paret-Peintre and Valentin Paret Peintre he can rely on two strong helpers. They are supported by Alex Baudin, Bastien Tronchon and Larry Warbasse. It's more planned for the sprints Andrea Vendrame. The Italian is also often found in escape groups. The line-up is completed by Damien Touze, who, after 3x Vuelta a Espana, can now take part in the Giro d'Italia for the first time.
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dsm-company PostNL
Romain Bardet want to know again. The experienced Frenchman is in good shape and is showing us all that 2024 will hopefully not be his last season as a professional cyclist. His goal is: podium. With Chris Hamilton, Kevin Vermaerke and Gijs Leemreize he can count on three strong helpers in the mountains. For the mass sprints, dsm-unternehmenich PostNL actually has to contend with a luxury problem. Because actually it was Fabio Jacobsen considered as a leader. Thanks to his three stage victories in the Tour of Turkey, the Dane also has Tobias Lund Andresen a claim to this role. We will be curious to see what the team management will ultimately decide. It is clear that Bram worlds and Julius van den Berg are in the role of helper and have to work towards their captains.
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Jayco AlUla
That's not how things want to go at all in 2024 so far Eddie Dunbar. The Irishman hasn't finished higher than 31st place this season. For a rider who actually wants to compete for a Grand Tour podium, this is a real nightmare. It is therefore questionable whether the Jayco AlUla team management will even rely on him at the 2024 Giro d'Italia. Alternatively could Luke Plop sprint into the breach. But the Australian has recently shown that he is simply not consistent enough in the high mountains and especially on longer tours to actually be a good GC rider. The only thing left is the last hot iron in the fire Filippo Zana left over. However, the Italian has never made such claims before and has never appeared as a GC rider. But the 25-year-old could really be trusted to take the next step in development. Whether too Caleb ewan whether we will take another step in the right direction at some point remains uncertain for the time being. The Australian receives support from Michael Hepburn and Max Walscheid. Can he finally sprint for stage wins again? We will definitely see them on the offensive again Alessandro De Marchi. The Italian is always good for an epic breakaway victory.
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Bahrain–Victorious
One of the most exciting and certainly strongest teams in the starting field of the Giro d'Italia 2024 is Bahrain – Victorious. With Damian Caruso there is someone there who has already come second overall. The now 36-year-old hasn't shown much this season, but like Geraint Thomas, he is a master at suddenly finding his form at the peak of the season. But he is probably the captain of the team Antonio Tiberi. The 22-year-old was long considered a huge talent, but so far he has only been able to show this in time trials. Now he has taken the next step in his career. It would be the logical consequence if he were to finish in the top 5 at the Giro d'Italia. But there is also a lot in the program for the flat stage. Phil Bauhaus is one of the fastest men in the world. In the sprints he is dominated by Andrea Pasqualon and Jasha Sutterlin supports. The line-up is completed by Edoardo Zambanini, Torstein Traeen and Rainer Kepplinger. The last-mentioned Austrian in particular can be happy. The Giro d'Italia 2024 will be his first Grand Tour - at the age of 26.
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