The 102nd Giro d'Italia in the SportNews check

Overall rating The most prominent name in the strong peloton is without question Vincenzo Nibali. The Sicilian is once again in excellent form after suffering a vertebral fracture during the 2018 Tour de France and hopes to be able to repeat his Giro victories from 2013 and 2016. The chances of this are good, as the 34-year-old recently presented himself in strong form at both the Tour of the Alps and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège cycling monument. However, the Italian, who has postponed his preparation a little this season, will not start as the top favorite. Nevertheless, the “Shark of Messina” is always to be expected on a Grand Tour. Vincenzo Nibali is aiming for his third Giro victory. © APA/afp / MARCO BERTORELLO

His biggest opponents probably come from Europe with Primoz Roglic, Tom Dumoulin and Simon Yates. The Slovenian Roglic in particular is at the top of the experts' list. The former ski jumper is a perfect all-rounder: whether it's climbs, descents or time trials, the 29-year-old is world class in every discipline. What could be the downfall of the Jumbo-Visma professional is his lack of experience compared to his competitors. In the absence of defending champion Chris Froome, Tour winner Geraint Thomas and their injured teammate Egan Bernal, Miguel Angel Lopez, Rafal Majka, Mikel Landa, Ilnur Zakarin and Bauke Mollema can also hope for a top placement in the overall ranking. Sprinter As far as the points are concerned, the Deceunick-Quick-Step team has Elia Viviani, the big favorite in their ranks. The 30-year-old won this classification last year and is also the hottest contender for the “Maglia Ciclamino” in the 102nd edition of the Giro. Caleb Ewan, Pascal Ackermann and Arnaud Demare want to challenge the 2016 omnium Olympic champion for this title. The stages The Giro stops in Dorothea Wierer's hometown: cycling icon Gilberto Simoni lifts the trophy with the 29-year-old. © ANSA / ANDREA SOLERO

As always with a Grand Tour, the race is divided into 21 stages. One stage, namely the 17th, is driven almost exclusively on South Tyrolean soil. From Commezzadura the peloton moves over the Mendel Pass towards Bolzano and then via the Isarco and Puster Valleys to Antholz. The stage ends there after 181 km. The next day the entourage moves on to Valdaora, where the 18th stage begins. At the finish in Santa Maria di Sala the sprinters have the last chance to prove themselves.

The professionals have to survive what is probably the toughest section two days earlier, when they go from Lovere over the Gavia and Mortirolo passes to Ponte di Legno. In addition to the numerous mountain stages, the final time trial in Verona also promises a lot of excitement because, as in 2017, there could be a change in the pink jersey on the last day.

The stage plan of the Giro d'Italia 2019:

1st stage: Bologna individual time trial (8,2 km) 2nd stage: Bologna – Fucecchio (205 km) 3rd stage: Vinci – Orbetello (220 km) 4th stage: Orbetello – Frascati (235 km) 5th stage: Frascati – Terracina (140 km) 6th stage: Cassino – San Giovanni Rotondo (238 km) 7th stage: Vasto – L'Aquila (185 km) 8th stage: Tortoreto Lido – Pesaro (239 km) 9th stage: Individual time trial Riccione – San Marino (34,8 km) 10th stage: Ravenna – Modena (145 km) 11th stage: Carpi – Novi Ligure (221 km) 12th stage: Cuneo – Pinerolo (158 km) 13th stage: Pinerolo – Ceresole Reale (196 km) 14th stage: Saint-Vincent – Courmayeur (131 km) 15th stage: Ivrea – Como (232 km) 16th stage: Lovere – Ponte di Legno (226 km) 17th stage: Commezzadura – Antholz (181 km) 18th stage: Olang – Santa Maria di Sala (222 km) 19th stage: Treviso – San Martino di Castrozza (151 km) 20th stage: Feltre – Croce d'Aune (194 km) 21st stage: Verona individual time trial (17 km)

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The 102nd Giro d'Italia in the SportNews check

The starting signal for Italy's most important cycling race will be given on May 11th. A total of 176 drivers from 22 teams will then complete around 3.580 kilometers in three weeks. SportNews takes a look ahead and provides answers to open questions.

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