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.
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“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.
Quintana out to impress in Ireland at Giro's Grand Depart
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.
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