2023-05-05 08:34:03
Cycling is already at its maximum intensity. The moment of truth arrives with the start of the season of grand tours, what fans are most passionate about. It starts with the Giro and will have its culminating point with the Tour (from July 1 to 23) that this year begins nothing more, nothing less, than in Bilbao, before the Vuelta, which begins in Barcelona on August 26, puts an end to the fight between mountains, time trials (less and less, except in the Italian round), the occasional sprint (another ‘kind’ of stage that is in the repeal phase) and days loaded with wind and surprises. The Giro debuts. The curtain of passion opens (from May 6 to 28).
What does the Giro have that neither the Tour nor the Vuelta have?
The French and Spanish rounds live under the protective cloak of ASO, the company that owns the property of both races and other sporting events such as the rally Dakar or the paris marathon. At the beginning of the last decade, precisely the Vuelta, with the intention of activating the race, looked for different scenarios, opted for wild arrivals on inhuman slopes and began to eliminate stages with sprints and time trial days, while decreasing the number of kilometers against the chronometer. To a greater or lesser extent the Tour has opted for the Spanish project. On the other hand the Giro it continues to maintain what could be called a more classic structure in three-week races.
How is the classic Giro bet defined?
In Italy they neither curse the time trials nor the days with massive arrivals (‘volatas’ they call them). This year there are at least six stages (spread out over three weeks) with a sprint on the horizon and three time trials, the last one, decisively, one day from Rome, which is a time trial climb to Monte Lussari. In total, 72 kilometers of timed fight.
What other important difference is there in relation to the Tour and the Vuelta?
In France and Spain they distribute the objectives throughout the three weeks. This year the Grande Boucle presents the Pyrenees in the fifth stage with the Mary Blanque and the sixth with him Aspen and the Tourmalet. La Vuelta already includes the Pyrenees on the third day with the ascent to Arinsal, in Andorra. The Giro, on the other hand, gathers almost all the difficulty in the third week with the risk that this implies: a conformism on the part of the runners; something, however, that this year should not be a setback due to the two main protagonists of the race, Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel, and problems with the weather that force the cancellation of stages due to bad weather or snow, something that despite The strange temperatures of these last days in a good part of Europe is always a risk to take into account in the Dolomites.
Is it the toughest of the three stage rounds?
Although it is difficult to confirm this point, the Giro route is always an exaggeration, which is why the candidates to fight for victory in the Tour have been at least since 2015, the year in which Alberto counter he tried unsuccessfully to win in Paris after winning the Italian round, shying away from combat on transalpine roads before going to France. Undoubtedly, the third week of the Giro is incomparable in terms of difficulty that cyclists will find themselves at the end of the Tour and Vuelta campaign. On the other hand, apart from the time trial that serves as the closing of the first week of competition, the first 15 days of Giro They are more affordable for runners compared to the French and Spanish difficulties.
How is the third week of the Giro?
The only qualifier that is earned is that of savagery with four summit arrivals: Monte Bondone, a pleasant memory for Miguel Indurain in the absolute victory of 1992, Val di Zoldo, the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, where the marks of the wheels of Eddy Merckx in his 1968 recital, and the time trial climb to Monte Lussari. As if that were not enough, something that deeply displeases the runners, after the race is sentenced on the last slope of the test, everyone must take a plane from the airport of Udine in Rome to face the urban walk prior to the delivery of trophies.
Will it be a race with only two candidates for victory?
So it seems, given what happened in the Volta a Catalunya, Roglic and Evenepoel They are launched as the only two contenders for the final victory since they are several points ahead of any other claimant to victory. Roglic he leads his Flemish rival in experience and equipment. Evenepoel He presents himself as the best time trialist and much more maverick. Roglic He has always suffered in the last week of competition (in 2020 he lost the Tour to his compatriot Tadej Pogacar one day from Paris). However, the performance of Evenepoel in the highest mountain – much more after two weeks of competition – it is a mystery.
Is anyone else running besides Roglic and Evenepoel?
Of course. The challenge is extremely complicated, but those who aspire to surprise in Rome should be aware of any mistake by the favorite couple. This is where the names of Geraint Thomas (36 years old and winner of the 2018 Tour), Alexsandr Vlasov (26), João Almeida (24) y Tao Geoghegan Hart (28), winner of the 2020 Giro although he has practically disappeared in combat since he won the pink jersey.
Is there any Spanish option to fight for the general?
No. To say otherwise would be mislead the reader. Only seven cyclists born south of the Pyrenees attend, since all the Spanish figures, without exception, are preparing for the Tour, including Mikel Landa and Pello Bilbao, the most enthusiastic about the Italian event. Charles Verona, at the helm of Movistar, seems the best prepared to aspire to a stage win and even to be among the top 15 overall. Beside him, in the blue set, are Jose joaquin rojas, Albert Torres y Oscar Rodriguez. The veteran also attends Luis Leon Sanchezin Astana and with options to also fight for some stage, Jonathan Lastrain Cofidis, and Diego Pablo Sevillein the modest Eolo Kometa, close the Spanish participation.
How many Spaniards have won the Giro?
In a career marked by Italian myths Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Happy Gimondi, Marco Pantani y Vincent Nibalionly two Spanish cyclists, Miguel Indurain (1992 and 1993) and Alberto counter (2008 and 2015) have conquered the pink race. Contador He also won the Giro in 2011 but the victory was taken from him as a result of the controversial matter of the Irún sirloin.
Can the Giro be followed on television?
Of course, through Eurosport and also thanks to EiTB. The stages will be offered in full. The schedules usually vary, but approximately between 12 and 5:30 p.m. there will be retransmission every day, except for the two rest days, since Monday, May 15 and 22, will be lived in the Italian sun.
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