One-sided cycling spectacle?
Who will win the Giro? Tadej Pogacar, who else?
May 3, 2024, 5:04 p.m
The Giro d’Italia begins on Saturday. Tadej Pogacar is the undisputed favorite. Former professional Jens Voigt doesn’t see it any differently. Meanwhile, German cycling hopes lie with the resurgent Maximilian Schachmann. And on sprinter Phil Bauhaus.
What’s up? The Giro d’Italia. More precisely: the 107th edition of the second most important national cycling tour after the Tour de France. Three weeks, 21 stages, 3,400.8 kilometers and almost 45,000 meters of altitude. The 176 professional cyclists start the fight for the legendary pink jersey of the overall leader on Saturday in the area around Turin, with the final triumph traditionally following in Rome on May 26th. In between there are a lot of climbs, including the queen stage, the 15th section, when around 5,400 meters of altitude have to be overcome over 222 kilometers.
Who wins? Probably Tadej Pogacar. “Probably nothing will get past him,” says German hopeful Maximilian Schachmann: “It will be very, very difficult to beat him.” The two-time Tour de France winner from Slovenia is traveling to Italy in absolute top form, there is little to suggest that Pogacar is already stumbling in Italy on the way to his targeted double of Giro and Tour victory. Also because the really big opponents are missing. Former world champion Julian Alaphilippe lacks absolute quality in the high mountains and probably also top form, while Geraint Thomas from Wales, who came second last year, probably lacks the push in the duel with the explosive Pogacar in the late autumn of his career. “If he doesn’t make a mistake with his diet, if he doesn’t fall off his bike or make a huge tactical mistake, I can’t see how anyone in the Giro field could endanger him in a direct duel,” said the TV expert and former Professional Jens Voigt at Eurosport.
What are the German drivers up to? None of the eleven German professionals will have much to do with the decision in the overall standings. But stage wins are always possible. Bora Hansgrohe driver Schachmann (30), who is slowly getting back to his top form after difficult years, is looking for one or two daily wins in addition to his helper activities for captain Dani Martinez. His talented climbing teammate Florian Lipowitz (23) is also hoping for a surprise coup in the mountains, oldie Simon Geschke (37/Cofidis) also has big plans on his farewell tour before the end of his career, and Phil Bauhaus (29/Bahrain Victorious) wants to take part in the mass sprints have the tire at the front.
What caused a stir beforehand? The route of the first stage. Among other things, it leads over the Superga, the hill on which the great AC Turin football team crashed to their death by plane on Saturday exactly 75 years ago. The Tifosi have imagined the sad anniversary differently and are therefore up in arms. And then there was the controversy surrounding Emanuel Buchmann. According to his own account, the fourth-place finisher in the 2019 tour was originally supposed to travel to the Giro as co-captain, but then did not find himself in Bora-hansgrohe’s squad. He vented his anger in a salty Instagram post, and the team reacted “very surprised.” Buchmann was “never promised to be co-captain at the Giro,” said sporting director Enrico Gasparotto. It is doubtful whether the tablecloth between driver and team can be mended again in the future.
Who is broadcasting the spectacle? You can see the Giro at Eurosport, and it’s as extensive as usual. The station will broadcast the tour live on free TV for over 120 hours, as well as streaming broadcasts on discovery+. Ex-professional Jens Voigt will be there as an expert, among others.