Palermo (Italy) (AFP)
Sicily at the beginning of autumn: it is a Giro with twilight beauty that begins on Saturday in front of the cathedral of Monreale for Vincenzo Nibali and Geraint Thomas, two former winners of the Tour de France, candidates for the final victory.
At the gates of Palermo, the largest city in Sicily, a quintet of favorites emerges before taking the start of the Tour of Italy, the second stage race of the cycling season in order of importance.
With Nibali (35) and Thomas (34), the Danish Jakob Fuglsang (35) and the Dutch Steven Kruijswijk (33) rub shoulders with a youngster, the Briton Simon Yates, 28 anyway.
Unlike the last Tour de France and the new wave embodied by its surprise winner, the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (22 years old), the Tour of Italy offers a chance to the "thirties".
By default too, since the most astonishing phenomenon of the peloton, the Belgian Remco Evenepoel (20), had to withdraw after his fall in mid-August in the Tour of Lombardy.
Nibali, double winner of the Giro (2013, 2016), postulates for a third victory which would place him at the level of the legendary Felice Gimondi, to whom he is similar in many ways.
This time, the "Shark of Messina" is playing at home, at least during the first four days.
- "A message of confidence" for Italy -
Fortunately, the Giro moved to Sicily, the island of ancient wonders, after having had to give up the initial Grand start in Budapest.
With, as high points, the initial time trial between Monreale and Palermo, the final the next day near the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, and especially the first arrival at altitude on Monday on the slopes of Etna, the volcano always ready to wake up.
Fascinating Giro!
In a country which was the first in Europe to be severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic but which has been able in recent months to control the risks of resurgence, the pink race wants to bring "a message of confidence through Italy", according to a word from its director Mauro Vegni.
The whole country is concerned, from the plains and reliefs of the south of the boot to the northern mountains visited in the third week, up to the highest points, the Stelvio (2758 m) and the Agnello (2745 m), if the weather allows you to cross these passes at this time of year.
The race reserves their part to the sprinters (Fernando Gaviria, Arnaud Démare, Elia Viviani and, for the first time, the triple world champion Peter Sagan).
It also promises 64.9 kilometers of time trial, significantly more than the Tour de France (36.2 km).
- "A real puzzle" for Nibali -
For Thomas, the favorites' best rider, the advantage is undeniable.
But, retorts Nibali about the course, "this Giro, for its preparation and the period of the season in which it takes place, is a real headache".
"The year is special, the season very strange, the race full of unknowns. For example: will there be a public?", Asked the Sicilian of the Trek team this week in the daily Corriere della. Will be.
Before showing his relief following the world championship at Imola which largely reassured him on Sunday about his condition: "Experience teaches me that I am always ready for the big laps".
The other great headliner of the 103rd edition holds a similar speech.
Geraint Thomas, unhappy in the past in the Tour of Italy, presents himself to redress the balance sheet of the Ineos team, in check on the Tour.
His boss Dave Brailsford recalls, "the Giro is a challenge, whether in May or October".
In 2018, his British rider Chris Froome had managed the most improbable of reversals at the cost of an incredible 80 km raid in the Piedmont mountains (north-west).
Each edition has its own challenge.
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