THE 2014 GIRO D’ITALIA gets under way tomorrow in Belfast with Nairo Quintana and Joaquin Rodriguez shaping up as the men to beat.
Quintana finished second to Britain’s Chris Froome at the 2013 Tour de France, and the 24-year-old starts as a hot favourite. Movistar said they were ready to provide Quintana with the support he would need.
“The team has been formed to support him. The aim is to fight for the podium,” team manager Eusebio Unzue said.
“After his second place at the Tour he is ready (to win) but we aren’t forgetting that this is the first time he has such responsibility from the start — that he will tackle a grand tour as a leader.”
Michele Scarponi is set to start the Giro d’Italia as the host nation’s best hope of winning.
The 34-year-old Astana rider, champion in 2011, is considered one of the favourites for the race, which starts in Belfast on Friday.
While Scarponi said there were riders who were a bigger chance than him, he believes the Giro is an open race.
“I will try to give it everything in order to get a good result,” he told Ultimo Chilometro. ”The Giro d’Italia is the race that I like the most, the one in which I can express myself better.
“It’s hard to conquer, there are many riders who can win it on paper and definitely bigger favourites than me, but I’m prepared.”
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and Rigoberto Uran (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) are among the others considered a good chance of winning.
The race starts in Belfast and heads to Dublin before the first of three rest days, which will be followed by the first stage in Italy. The main mountain stages come either side of the May 26 rest day, including a 225-kilometre one from Valdengo to Plan di Montecampione.
should have*
I think it may be a blessing in disguuse for Frankie. Either way he will be getting the next title shot after any obligatory rematches are dealt with. That way he will have a full training camp behind him rather than two weeks notice.
I’m not so sure about that. If Chad steps in to fight Conor. The winner will then fiight Aldo. If that’s Conor and he wins (which I think is very likely) there’s a very good chance of a rematch. Edgar might have a bit of a wait before he gets that shot!
Shut up shut up SHUT UP
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I read the whole article in Troy McClures voice and it f***ing got to me.
I’m sorry.
Frankie definitely deserves it more. In Aldos last fight he beat Mendes for the second time. If Mendes does step in and win, Aldos next fight will be against the guy he beat in his last fight. Frankie hasn’t lost since his 2013 fight with Aldo and has won 4 fights since then. He has done a lot more since his last loss so in my book he has earned it. However, Edgar probably has a better chance of beating Conor so that’s why they picked Chad. Aldo vs McGregor is the real money fight so the UFC want to see that happen.
Edgar and Mendes have never fought. If Aldo McGregor goes ahead, with Edgar ready to fight and Mendes in camp for back up as we speak, they should have a title eliminator fight for the right to face the new champion.