Who will win the Giro? With less than 24 hours to go it’s time to look at the contenders for the 2014 Giro d’Italia.
After his second place in the 2013 Tour de France, Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) is the obvious favourite for this years Giro and the bookies have Quintana as clear favourite. Quintana won the Tour de San Luis earlier this year and also finished second in the Tirreno–Adriatico.
Joaquim Rodriguez (Team Katusha) is another rider who will be looking to win his first Grand Tour, Rodriguez finished second in the 2012 Giro d’Italia and then later in the year finished third in the Vuelta a Espana. Last year Rodriguez finished third behind Quintana in the Tour de France so he will be looking to avenge that in this years Giro. Joaquin has won the Volta a Catalunya earlier this year.
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) rounds out the top three favourites in what could be his last Giro. Evans is fresh off a win in the Giro del Trentino and could well be timing his form to perfection. Former Tour de France winner Evans has the best palmares of the three favourites and while popular opinion is saying Evans won’t win and the bookies have him only at third favourite he could easily take this race if he is anywhere near his 2011 form. Evans has a strong team for the opening Team Time Trial and the very talented Samuel Sanchez for help in the high Mountains.
Behind these three favourites are another three riders who are certain to take it to the top three. They are Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) who should be a good punt for a podium position. Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) is another rider in good form as is Domenico Pozzovivo (Ag2r-La Mondiale).
Giro d’Italia 2014: Stages
Stage 1, Fri May 9, Belfast — Belfast TTT, 21.7km
Stage 2, Sat May 10, Belfast — Belfast, 218km
Stage 3, Sun May 11, Armagh — Dublin, 187km
Rest day – Mon May 12, transfer
Stage 4, Tue May 13, Giovinazzo — Sari, 121km
Stage 5, Wed May 14, Taranto — Viggiano, 156km
Stage 6, Thu May 15, Sassano — Montecassino, 247km
Stage 7, Fri May 16, Frosinone — Foligno, 214km
Stage 8, Sat May 17, Foligno — Montecopiolo, 174km
Stage 9, Sun May 18, Lugo — Sestola, 174km
Rest day – Mon May 19, Modena
Stage 10, Tue May 20, Modena — Salsomaggiore Terme, 184km
Stage 11, Wed May 21, Collecchio — Savona, 249km
Stage 12, Thu May 22, Barbaresco — Barolo ITT, 46.4km
Stage 13, Fri May 23, Fossano — Rivarolo Canavese, 158km
Stage 14, Sat May 24, Agliè —Oropa, 162km
Stage 15, Sun May 25, Valdengo — Montecampione, 217km
Rest day – Mon May 26, Ponte di Legno
Stage 16, Tue May 27, Ponte di Legno — Val Martello, 139km
Stage 17, Wed May 28, Sarnonico — Vittorio Veneto, 204km
Stage 18, Thu May 29, Belluno — Rif. Panarotta, 171km
Stage 19, Fri May 30, Bassano del Grappa — Cima Grappa ITT, 26.8km
Stage 20, Sat May 31, Maniago — Monte Zoncolan, 167km
Stage 21, Sun June 1, Gemona del Friulli — Trieste, 169km
Teams of the 2014 Giro d’Italia
Ag2r La Mondiale
Androni Giocattoli
Astana
Bardiani CSF
Belkin
BMC Racing
Cannondale
Colombia
Europcar
FDJ
Garmin-Sharp
Giant-Shimano
Katusha
Lampre-Merida
Lotto-Belisol
Movistar
Neri Sottoli
Omega Pharma-QuickStep
Orica-GreenEdge
Sky
Trek Factory Racing
Tinkoff-Saxo
Last Years Winner
Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) won the 2013 Giro d’Italia in a dominating performance ahead of this years favourite Nairo Quintana (Team Sky) and Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team).
Enjoy the highlights of last years incredible race.
Australian riders in the Giro
This year there are thirteen Australian riders in the Giro d’Italia. Six of those thirteen riders are from Australia’s Orica GreenEdge team.
47. David Tanner (Belkin Pro cycling Team)
51. Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
96. Nathan Haas (Garmin Sharp)
115. Adam Hansen (Lotto Belisol)
152. Luke Durbridge (Orica GreenEDGE)
153. Michael Hepburn (Orica GreenEDGE)
154. Brett Lancaster (Orica GreenEDGE)
155. Michael Mathews (Orica GreenEDGE)
156. Cameron Meyer (Orica GreenEDGE)
157. Mitchell Docker (Orica GreenEDGE)
196. Chris Sutton (Team Sky)
208. Jay MacCarthy (Tinkoff-Saxo)
209. Michael Rogers (Tinkoff-Saxo)
Join The Bike Lane over the next three weeks watching the #Giro on SBS and Eurosport, and keep up with all the news on twitter #Giro
