(jazzy music)
- It's going to be one big, pink party throughout May,
as Italy celebrates the 100th edition of the Giro d'Italia.
And what an event it's gonna be.
And what humdinger of a race.
We think it's gonna be definitely
a fitting start to the Grand Tour season.
- It certainly will be, and that big party will all kick off
on Friday the fifth of May, with the first of three
road stages on the island of Sardinia.
They'll then have the first of three rest days
before heading to the island of Sicily
for a further two stages and it's not 'til stage six,
where they finally reach the mainland,
at which point they will gradually head northwards,
up towards the Dolomites, and ultimately
have a final stage time trial into the city of Milan.
- Right, in total, the riders will be covering
3,572.2 kilometres over the 21 stages,
which averages out at 170 kilometres per stage,
which is pretty punchy, but a far cry from
that first edition of the Giro,
where the eight stages averaged 306 kilometres.
Now they did have between two and three rest days
between each one, but nevertheless,
that is quite an undertaking.
Unfortunately, even for this hundredth edition,
they couldn't quite visit all of Italy's regions,
that was, apparently, a logistical impossibility,
but nevertheless, take a look at that route,
and that is a true Giro of Italy.
(electronic music)
- Well, that was tasty
- Was rather nice, I have to say.
Okay, so, the 21 stages this year
are spread across a total of 24 days.
There are two individual time trials,
six stages that are earmarked for the sprinters,
five stages in the high mountains,
and then eight stages in
what they deem the medium mountains,
plus those aforementioned three rest days.
Now at the start, those three stages on Sardinia.
There's something for almost everyone.
Stages one and three look set to be for the sprinters,
whilst stage two is a much hillier affair
and does give the attackers an early opportunity.
- Right, well and the first mountain finish
comes as soon as stage four.
Mount Etna is the last climb of the day,
and, although it's 20 kilometres long,
it is only an average grading of 6%,
so it's not going to be the toughest test the riders face.
However, back in 2011, which was
the last time this climb was used,
it was plenty explosive enough
for Alberto Contador, who put over a minute-
did you get that?
- I did yeah.
- Over a minute into his rivals on that stage.
- Well, Alberto Contador did put a fair bit of time
into me on that climb as well, so I can testify
it's pretty difficult.
- A minute on the lowest slopes, wasn't it?
- Yeah, and a true test of form the isn't it?
- It is, it certainly was. - Sorted the men from the boys
- This is professional!
You are not professional, you need train more!
- I was a professional, 10 years ago.
(heavy breathing) - Ahh
- But, it's stage nine, I think,
that needs to be definitely one to watch.
It's nothing to write home about,
the first part of the race,
but the final climb is the Blockhaus,
which is a real brute.
13.6 kilometres in length, with the final ten k's
at ten percent, and for me, I think stage nine
is where we could see the first major GC shakeup.
- Yeah, I think you could be right there.
Following the second rest day of the race,
the riders will face the first
of the two individual time trials.
It is a 40 kilometre rolling affair,
and definitely one for the strongest riders
against the clock to strut their stuff,
and then on stage twelve we have
the longest stage of the race.
Certainly an endurance test at 229 kilometres,
but one that again looks set to be
earmarked for the sprinters.
- As ever though, it is gonna be
the final week which is gonna be a true test,
particularly when it comes to climbing.
Stage 16, it comes immediately after
that final rest day, and although
there is no mountaintop finish,
it has been deemed the queen stage.
It certainly has the prize of the Cima Coppi,
which is the highest point the Giro's gonna reach,
and that's because it goes over the Stelvio Pass.
Before that, though, it goes up
the fearsome Mortirolo,
and I can personally attest that--
- [Matt] You remember that well don't you?
- Having gone over it twice, yes,
it is incredibly steep that one,
but then it goes up the Stelvio again,
this time the first time ever going up
from the Swiss side, which is called the
Umbrailpass, or something along those lines,
thanks, and that, as well, goes up to
2,500 thousand metres,
before a descent into the finish.
- After a slightly easier ride on stage 17,
the next three stages continue
through the mountains, with stage 18
taking three major cols, in the Alta Badia region
and the penultimate stage going up the infamous
Monte Grappa climb, before the final TT showdown
of 29 K's, in Milan.
Now, on paper, that looks like a brutal route,
let alone on the tarmac, and I must admit
I just can't wait for it to start.
- No, going to be a cracker.
- I can't wait for it to start.
- A Sante. (glasses clinking)
- Salute. - Salute, sorry, salute.
- Is it a Sante? (glasses clinking)
- I dunno it's all of the above
(glasses clinking) - No idea.
- The Giro. - Yeah, doesn't matter.
- Amore.
(laughing)
(dramatic orchestral music)
- So, we know what are likely to be
the decisive stages of the race,
but who are gonna be the contenders
vying for the coveted pink jersey,
and that famous Giro D'Italia trophy?
Well, before we get on with them,
let's have a word for poor Fabio Aru,
he was due to lead Team Astana
at the 2017 Giro D'Italia, but
just a few weeks back he crashed in training,
through having a puncture, and injured his knee,
and now won't be at the start,
which is in his home place of Sardinia,
how bad is that? - That is brutal.
- Devastating news for him and
for the race as a whole, really.
- That's right, but, don't worry
Italy is still gonna have someone to cheer for
because reigning Giro champion
Vincenzo Nibali is taking to the start line,
and he is also gonna have the honour
of racing into his hometown as well.
The Shark of Messina will be racing into Messina
on stage five, although to be fair
he's probably not gonna have much
of a chance of victory, 'cause that looks,
on paper at least, like one for the sprinters.
- Hmm, but, I think, without a shadow of a doubt,
the overall favourite has to be
2014 Giro D'Italia champion
Nairo Quintana of Movistar.
Now, we haven't exactly seen much
of the little Colombian this year so far, but
what we have seen has been mightily impressive.
Of the three stage races he's started in 2017
he's won two, including Tirreno Adriatico
for a second time, and the steep climbs of Italy
really do suit him, so he has to be
the out-and-out favourite for this race,
and of course he'll be very fresh as well.
- Yeah. - Yes, no doubt about that.
The next man on our list almost
won the Giro d'Italia last year.
Most of you will remember that agonising crash
for Steven Kruijswijk, whilst in the pink jersey
on stage 19 last year.
Firstly the pink jersey slipped out of his hands,
and then both remaining places
on the podium as well.
He eventually finished fourth overall.
Now time hasn't run out for him just yet,
he is only 29 years of age, and although
his form hasn't been phenomenal so far this year,
at the same time last year it also wasn't,
so don't count him out at all.
- No that's right, and then also, his compatriot
Tom Dumoulin is taking the start line again,
and he is gonna be without a shadow of a doubt
looking to tear things up
on the time trials stages and then, presumably
limit his losses on the mountain stages.
The national Dutch fans have got
an awful lot to cheer for, because
Trek-Segafredo's Bauke Mollema is also targeting
this race so that's pretty exciting,
maybe there should be like a Dutch corner
- Yeah, move it across the border from France into Italy.
- Yeah, move over Alpe d'Huez,
it's all about Stelvio.
- Dutch fans get your act together,
we might see you out there on Dutch corner in Italy.
- The contenders just keep coming and coming
this year, it's a stellar field, isn't it?
I mean French fans have got FDJ's
Thibaut Pinot, who is on fire at the moment,
Americans have got Tejay Van Garderen
to cheer for, riding for BMC, who also have
Rohan Dennis, who could be looking to do something,
won the Overall Classification as well,
whilst British fans have Adam Yates to look out for,
and will he continue his stellar progression
that we've seen over the last couple of years,
and another Brit that we can't ignore of course,
is a real in form Geraint Thomas of Team Sky,
who looked very very impressive and lean and sharp
in the Tour of the Alps that he won overall.
- Yeah he's definite podium contender now
- Oh yeah, definitely.
- But, let's not forget that he will share
leadership duties at Team Sky with
their Basque rider Mikel Landa,
who has actually finished on the podium
of the Giro d'Italia before,
a couple of years ago in third place,
and he's also shown some great form of late
at the Tour of the Alps as well,
finished second on a stage there to Geraint himself.
- We should also mention Ilnur Zakarin
of Team Katusha, not the first person
that you'd think of for the GC,
but at the same time you wouldn't be surprised
to see him finish on the final podium.
Oh, and we should also mention
Bob Jungels, he was the best young rider
last year, sixth place overall,
and the Luxembourg champion will be hoping
to make another bit of progression this year.
- [Tom] Yeah he was brilliant to watch last year
- [Matt] Had the jersey for a bit as well
- He did didn't he?
In fact, that's just an absolutely stellar lineup
- It's nuts.
- Genuinely one of the most exciting
Grand Tour GC lineups that I can remember.
Super cool, and although the sprinters
perhaps don't have quite such strength in depth,
we've still got plenty to get excited about.
For example, Fernando Gaviria, who, amazingly,
is doing his first ever Grand Tour.
Really really interested to see
what he ends up coming up against.
And then also, fellow 22-year-old Caleb Ewan,
of Orica-Scott, he is gonna be lining up again.
And then a less young rider, but certainly
a prolific winner, André Greipel,
is also gonna be sprinting against those two.
- I think that Greipel will win a stage.
I think Gaviria will win two.
- Greipel has won a stage of every Giro started.
- He has.
- That's not a bad thing to have in your pocket is it?
- The Italians have Sacha Modolo and Elia Viviani,
both of whom won stages in the past,
they know what it takes to win a Giro stage,
but also you'd look out for Italian road champion
Giacomo Nizzolo, Trek-Segafredo,
remember he won the final stage last year,
but was relegated for veering off his line,
so he will have a point to prove
and is extremely fast.
- Yeah, he's also gonna be fresh as well.
He's coming back from injury, isn't he?
Sam Bennett will be hoping to take a stage win
for both Bora-Hansgrohe and also Ireland.
I think I'm right in saying the last stage win
from an Irish rider is probably Stephen Roche,
from a decade ago. - I think you're right, yeah.
- That will be something for those fans to cheer on.
And also, if you want a wild card
to look out for in the sprints,
look no further than young Ryan Gibbons,
22-year-old South African rider for Team Dimension Data.
It looks like the team might well give him his
first opportunity at a Grand Tour here at the
Giro d'Italia and at the start of this year,
he looked tremendously fast at the Tour of Langkawi.
Won a stage there, and also won the overall.
- They better give him a start, hadn't they?
- Hopefully.
- Otherwise he'll be really upset.
He watches this and thinks like
brilliant, I'm gonna do the Giro,
then it's like, sorry, Ryan.
- Just blame Lloyd, can't they?
- Yeah yeah, Dan's actually yeah,
- Ex-rider, of course, for Dimension Data
- Dan's actually not got any influence
over on selection policies anymore.
(dramatic orchestral music)
- Right then, time for the infamous GCN predictions.
Not settling for just putting the curse
on three riders, I think we're gonna predict
a podium each, so, sorry to roundabout nine riders,
depending on who we all go for.
Our first up Si, winner?
- Nairo Quintana.
- Ah, the obvious choice.
- Sorry guys, but, you know.
- It's fair enough, though - Yeah.
- He is good isn't he?
- He is probably, second only to Froome,
the best stage race rider in the world,
and therefore, kinda got to predict him.
- His odds are very short for this race, as well.
- Matt?
- I'm gonna go for, it's not exactly
an outsider, but
Thibaut Pinot.
- I am going to go for young British rider
Adam Yates, who you mentioned earlier,
because, as you said, his progression
has been nothing short of incredible,
over the last few years, fourth at the tour last year.
If he makes just the slightest of progressions
again, over the last nine or ten months,
then he is definitely going to be on the podium,
in my eyes, if not taking a win.
- And his time trials have improved a little bit
as well, so that is a best bet
- Yeah, he wasn't bad at the time trials last year.
- He does look very very strong.
- And you just can't help but think
that he's gonna be good on Italian climbs.
- Yeah - You know?
Right then, podiums, who's it gonna be?
- Well Pinot first. - Yeah.
- I'm gonna go for Vincenzo Nibali,
the defending champion in second place,
and then, I'm gonna go for Steven Kruijswijk
in third, so a bit of a left-field mix,
but it's such an unpredictable race,
hence, they I'm going for.
- I'm gonna go for really boring, really mainstream,
and just keep my fingers crossed that
it's gonna work out this time,
So, Quintana for the win, Mikel Landa, I think,
for second, and Vincenzo Nibali for third,
so I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed.
- Well, I am going for third spot with Mikel Landa,
runner-up will be Tom Dumoulin, and
the winner will be Nairo Quintana
(record scratch)
- Oh, but you've already predicted Adam Yates
- I know, but I'm gonna stick a fourth rider in
- What, that's just cheating! - You can't do that!
- Sorry, yes I can!
(maniacal laughter)
- I predict Adam Yates for the win, and
I'm also gonna predict Nairo Quintana for the win.
- So how many riders have we ruined the chances of now?
That's pretty much all the contenders
we've ruined their chances.
- Geraint Thomas, though.
We haven't tipped him yet, so you know
- Geraint, for the win.
- Oh no, there, see you've just cursed him again.
Who is now, Zakarin, basically,
- Sorry, sorry G!
- it's just gonna be Zakarin, for the win.
- Let's just say, it could be a really good rider
that wins the Giro this year.
(electronic music)
- Right, well, that is the end of
GCN's big preview for the 100th edition
of the Giro d'Italia, and I, for one,
can't wait to see Adam Yates win.
- Same here - Seconded.
That's gonna be amazing, hang on, what?
I thought Nairo Quintana was gonna win
- Pinot's gonna roll it. - Make your mind up Dan.
- You may have seen - Pinot Grigiot.
- That we have all been pretty in pink
throughout the show.
These are GCN special edition Giro d'Italia
t-shirts for 2017, and if you'd like one yourself
you will be able to find them over at
shop.globalcyclingnetwork.com
and also there is the pizza cutter,
that you briefly saw, at the start of the show
it was a GCN Park Tools collaboration,
before we quickly devoured the pizza
and took it out of shot.
- Indeed, now me and Lasty are gonna be
on the ground in Sardinia for the start of the Giro,
so let us know the types of things
you'd like to see, in the comments section.
- That's right, so all there is left
for me to say is make sure that
you have subscribed to GCN, it's very simple
just click on the globe, and then
if you want more content, well,
we mentioned that amazing Matt and Contador video,
so that one is just down there,
and then, to see the fearsome Mortirolo,
and find out whether you go faster
on compact or standard gearing,
click just down there.
- Arrivederci!