Giro d'Italia 2024: Who are the favourites?

The Giro d'Italia, or Tour of Italy, takes place from 4 May to 26 May, 2024, and although the route seems less mountainous, it will be no walk in the park. The event will have its share of pitfalls, including almost 70 km of time trials. There are other changes: the 2023 winner, Primoz Roglic, is not taking part, while Tadej Pogačar is starting for the first time. Let's take a look at the favourites.

The Giro is a cycling institution. In 2024, the competitors will cover a total of 3,387.7 km (an average of 161.3 km per stage), with 44,550 m of ascent. It's a challenge that can only be met by a few champions, including Tadej Pogačar, who is taking part in the Giro for the first time, undoubtedly attracted by the demanding nature of the route and the significant number of high altitude finishes. But that's not all: there will also be plenty for sprinters and punchers, with both flat and hilly routes, as well as for solo specialists with two individual time trials.

Upheaval at the start

As we all know, our compatriot Wout Van Aert will not be taking part in the Giro 2024 due to his recent fall. The strong man of the Visma Lease a Bike team has to give priority to his health. This is obviously regrettable, as Van Aert was one of the favourites. We'll have to make do. The question arises as to who will succeed Primoz Roglic, who will not be taking part this year.

Why not? To prepare for the Tour de France, of course! On the other hand, the race sees the arrival of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates). He will clearly be the man to beat in this 107th edition, and his ambition is high: to attempt the famous Giro-Tour de France double, achieved for the last time in 1998 by Marco Pantani and these days considered little short of impossible to achieve.

Which outsiders?

That said, Pogačar won't have it easy. Other riders also have ambitions. There are a number of outsiders to be reckoned with, starting with Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), as the British veteran is still chasing a second Grand Tour victory. At 37, he doesn't have much time left. What's worrying is that his start to the season has been rather average. But don't be fooled by appearances, as the Welshman has already shown that he knows how to present himself at major events. His 3rd place in the 2022 Tour de France behind Pogačar and Vingegaard and his 2nd place in the 2023 Giro demonstrate this.

Even more likely is a victory for Belgian Cian Uijtdebroeks (Team Visma Lease a Bike), winner of the Tour de l'Avenir in 2022. This rider is so popular, in fact, that he's already emerging as one of the big favorites. And it's understandable: in his first year as a pro, he finished 8th in the Vuelta, proving that he could easily last 3 weeks.

Daniel Felipe Martínez (Bora Hansgrohe) could also spring a surprise. Let's not forget that the Colombian came 2nd in the Tour of the Algarve, while he also beat Remco Evenepoel twice on the queen stages. That's no mean feat. Finally, there's Australia's Ben O'Connor (Décathlon AG2R La Mondiale), who went through a slump in 2023, but seems to have regained his energy in 2024. Place your bets!

List of the 21 stages of the Giro 2024

• Stage 1: May 4, Venaria Reale - Torino (hilly stage, 143 km)
• Stage 2: May 5, San Francesco al Campo - Santuario di Oropa (medium-mountain stage, 161 km)
• 3rd stage: May 6, Novara - Fossano (flat stage, 166 km)
• Stage 4: May 7, Acqui Terme - Andora (flat stage, 190 km)
• Stage 5: May 8, Genova - Lucca (hilly stage, 178 km)
• 6th stage: May 9, Torre del Lago Puccini - Rapolano Terme (hilly stage, 180 km)
• Stage 7: May 10, Foligno - Perugia (individual time trial, 38.5 km)
• Stage 8: May 11, Spoleto - Prati di Tivo (mountain stage, 153 km)
• Stage 9: May 12, Avezzano - Napoli (hilly stage, 206 km)
• Stage 10: May 14, Pompeii - Cusano Mutri (mountain stage, 142 km)
• Stage 11: May 15, Foiano di Val Fortore - Francavilla al Mare (flat stage, 207 km)
• Stage 12: May 16, Martinsicuro - Fano (hilly stage, 190 km)
• Stage 13: May 17, Riccione - Cento (flat stage, 179 km)
• 14th stage: May 18, Castiglione delle Stiviere - Desenzano del Garda (individual time trial, 31.2 km)
• Stage 15: May 19, Manerba del Garda - Livigno (mountain stage, 220 km)
• 16th stage: May 21, Livigno - Santa Cristina Valgardena/St. Christina in Gröden (mountain stage, 202 km)
• Stage 17: May 22, Selva di Val Gardena/Wolkenstein in Gröden - Passo del Brocon (mountain stage, 159 km)
• Stage 18: May 23, Fiera di Primiero - Padova (flat stage, 171 km)
• Stage 19: May 24, Mortegliano - Sappada (medium-mountain stage, 157 km)
• 20th stage: May 25, Alpago - Bassano del Grappa (mountain stage, 181 km)
• 21st stage: May 26, Roma - Roma (flat stage, 122 km)