Anticipation is growing ahead of the Giro d’Italia, which kicks off tomorrow with the Durres–Tiranë stage and concludes on 1 June in Rome after 21 stages. The 23 participating teams have now confirmed the names of the 184 riders who will compete in this edition of the Corsa Rosa.
There are five former winners at the start line: Primož Roglič (2023), Jai Hindley (2022), Egan Bernal (2021), Richard Carapaz (2019) and Nairo Quintana (2014). Roglič, leading a strong Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe squad that also includes Hindley and Daniel Felipe Martínez, is considered the pre-race favourite. His main challenger appears to be Juan Ayuso, who has had a stellar start to the season with five wins, including Tirreno Adriatico. Ayuso, a candidate for both the Maglia Rosa and Maglia Bianca, will be supported by another highly anticipated debutant, Isaac Del Toro, and Adam Yates.
Other GC contenders to watch include Mikel Landa, Simon Yates, Antonio Tiberi, Pello Bilbao, Derek Gee, Romain Bardet, Giulio Ciccone, and David Gaudu. Outsiders capable of shining in the mountains include Thymen Arensman, Max Storer, Einer Rubio, Damiano Caruso, Max Poole, Davide Piganzoli, Lorenzo Fortunato, Wouter Poels, Georg Steinhauser, Koen Bouwman, and Filippo Zana.
The list of stage hunters is just as impressive, with names suited to both mixed and flat profiles. The Giro d’Italia welcomes the debut of two stars of the one-day racing scene, Wout Van Aert and Thomas Pidcock. This will be the third Giro start for Mads Pedersen, winner in Naples in 2023 and coming off a strong spring campaign. Other stage hunters for hilly profiles include Diego Ulissi, Quinten Hermans, Taco van der Hoorn, Jakob Fuglsang, Andrea Vendrame, Dorian Godon, Davide Formolo, Marco Frigo, Kasper Asgreen, Marco Brenner, and Martin Marcellusi.
Also in Naples, Olav Kooij took his maiden Giro stage win — he’s already won three times this season and will be one to watch in the sprints. His main rivals include Kaden Groves, Paul Magnier, Matteo Moschetti, and Sam Bennett. Competitive names just behind include Rick Pluimers, Casper van Uden, Luca Mozzato, Filippo Fiorelli, Luke Lamperti, Giovanni Lonardi, Enrico Zanoncello, and Orluis Aular.
The two time trials on the route will suit the specialists, with the last two European champions, Edoardo Affini and Joshua Tarling, among the favorites. Other notable contenders include Mattia Cattaneo, Brandon McNulty, Jay Vine, and Daan Hoole
