The director of the Tour of Italy has tried to whet the appetite of the Slovenian “cannibal” Tadej Pogacar. “It’s a pity that nobody seems to have the desire to try to win the Giro-Tour double. If I’m not mistaken, the last one was Pantani [en 1998]. So maybe it’s time for a runner to add his name to this honor roll”, recalled Mauro Vegni in an interview with The Gazetta dello Sport, at the end of 2021, titillating the double winner of the Grande Boucle. Without success.
With all due respect to the Italian, not convinced that ” winning the Tour de France three or four times makes a big difference”, the prodigy of the UAE Emirates prefers to bet on the pass of three in July before continuing on the Tour of Spain. His compatriot Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) and the Colombian Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers), defending champion, will not be traveling to Hungary either, relocated departure of this 105and Giro. These three total seven of the last nine major tours (Giro, Tour de France and Vuelta).
Not enough to sadden Paolo Bellino, the general administrator of RCS Sport, the company managing the event, which begins on May 6. “Having the best is importantconcedes the Turinese. But it’s also good to have the opportunity to see new faces emerge, to witness a real battle for the stages and the general classification. »
He is proud that his race is deemed to be more unpredictable than its French and Spanish counterparts. When Tadej Pogacar wins two Grandes Boucles de rang (2020, 2021), when Primoz Roglic raises his arms three times on the Vuelta (2019, 2020, 2021), the last to have achieved the double on the transalpine roads is called Miguel Indurain and the Spaniard’s performance dates back to 1992 and 1993.
“Nothing is ever written in advance. That’s also the beauty of our race.”, insists Mr. Bellino. Who cites the 2020 vintage, postponed to October because of the Covid-19 pandemic and marked by the absence of many favorites. The chance of a lifetime for Tao Geoghegan Hart. In the same second as Jai Hindley on the last day, the Briton had taken advantage of a time trial in the streets of Milan to steal the pink jersey and the final victory from the Australian.
“Carapaz stands out a bit for the general”
“There will be a bit of uncertainty at the start, but the race becomes very difficult very quickly”, underlines Hubert Dupont, former rider of AG2R-La Mondiale, twelve Giro on his counter. The ascent of Etna (Sicily), on May 10, should make it possible to widen the first gaps, before attending, a few days later, the arrival at the top of the formidable Blockhaus during the 9and step. “We will quickly see the state of form of the different runners”summarizes the Lyonnais.
In the absence of the two Slovenian scarecrows and an Egan Bernal back from injury, several names return to the list of contenders for the final crown. Those of the Portuguese Joao Almeida (UAE), author of three top 10 in stage races in 2022, or the Briton Simon Yates (Bike Exchange), dolphin of Primoz Roglic on Paris-Nice in March. But to bet, Hubert Dupont prefers to put “a coin” on Richard Carapaz, the protected runner at Ineos. ” He stands out a bit for the general. He has great qualities, we have seen that in the past, and he has the advantage of knowing where he puts his wheels. »
Winner of the Giro in 2019, the Ecuadorian also finished second in the Vuelta the following year, before completing his collection with a third place in the Tour de France in 2021. His team (the former Sky) won three of the four latest editions of the eventand Carapaz will be very well surrounded with luxury team-mates like Richie Porte and Pavel Sivakov.
Mathieu van der Poel present
The French, they also arrive with some ambitions. Behind Richard Carapaz and Simon Yates, Romain Bardet is the rider at the start with the most references in three-week races. His victory in the Tour des Alpes in April allows him to aim higher than his seventh place for his first at the Giro in 2021. Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), eighth in the last Tour de France, also has a card to play. The Giro d’Italia – which he discovers – can correspond to his qualities and “it takes place at a time of year when I am often in good shape”he told Agence France-Presse in early January.
More than the absence of an undisputed favorite at the start, it is perhaps the presence of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) which risks bringing the most uncertainty. After a start to the season disturbed by back pain, “VDP” regained its colors with a second victory in the Tour of Flanders.
No one imagines her in pink in Verona on May 29, but “He is one of those who will break the codes, who will shape the race”, predicts Hubert Dupont. Last summer, for his debut in the Tour de France, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor had thrilled the public with his panache and participated in exhausting part of the peloton with his unpredictable attacks.
At the time, the Dutch prodigy had planned his retirement (from the 9and stage) to prepare for the Olympic Games in mountain biking. This time, he intends to see the end of this Giro. “I have not yet completed a Grand Tour, he slipped, mid-April, at the site Wielerflits. Everyone tells me that we come out stronger from a Grand Tour, I’m curious to see that! ” He is not the only one.