Cycling: 22 teams are at the 101rd Giro d'Italia in Jerusalem at the start. We take a detailed look at all drivers and their goals. After we looked at the Giro d'Italia teams with the classified riders in the first part, this time the focus is on the sprinter teams.
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Bahrain Merida: Without the great Nibali, it's all about stage wins
Without Vincenzo Nibali, Team Bahrain Merida will compete in the Giro d'Italia. After all, his brother Antonio is also there. However, he has no chance of a top ranking in the overall ranking. Certainly has the best cards for this Domenico Pozzovivo. The now 35-year-old will be in the top 10 and hopes for a perfect race even on the podium. However, the focus of the team is on stage wins, which is why Bahrain Merida will certainly be seen from time to time on slightly wavy or even mountainous stages in a flight. Are predestined for it Matej Mohoric, Giovanni Visconti and Kanstantsin Siutsou. On the flat, Bahrain Merida relies on the Italian sprinter Nicolo Bonifazio. The 24-year-old recently won a stage at the Tour of Croatia. The squad of the Bahrain Merida Giro d'Italia team is completed by Manuele Boaro and the only 22-year-old and very talented Domen Novak.
Bardiani-CSF: Eight Italians for a success at the Giro
Although the Bardiani-CSF team is not in the first class of the cycling world, it can send a top team to the Giro d'Italia. The eight Italians should ensure success, with someone at the start for every terrain. Scheduled for a mass arrival is predominantly Andrea Guardini. But also Enrico Barbin and Paolo Simion have fast legs, with the former pro considered an all-rounder and one of the most explosive in the peloton even on a hilly stage. Will probably take a look at the general standings Giulio Ciccone, who won a stage at the Giro d'Italia in 2016 and is only 23 years old. Simone Andreetta, Mirco Maestri, Manuel Senni and Alessandro Tonelli could support him and at the same time go hunting for stages. So even if Bardiani-CSF can have a say in a mass sprint, we will often find the jerseys of the Italian second division team in escape groups.
Bora-hansgrohe: Well positioned even without top stars
The German team Bora-hansgrohe is sending a strong squad to the Giro d'Italia even without its stars Peter Sagan and Rafal Majka. The Sprinter has the best chance of winning a stage Sam Bennett, who finished in the top 3 four times last year. Bora-hansgrohe has nominated three German helpers to support him. While Rüdiger Selig will start the sprint, Christoph Pfingsten and Andreas Schillinger will take care of the follow-up work on the flat stages. In the overall standings, the German team would like to go with the Italian Davide formolo get in the top 10. However, should this show weaknesses, you have the Austrians Patrick Conrad and Felix Grossschartner as well as with the Italian Cesare Benedetti further hot irons in the fire. Presumably, these three should go on a stage hunt. Another Austrian stage victory at the Giro d'Italia by the Bora-hansgrohe team does not seem unlikely.
Quick-Step Floors: Viviani should do the Gaviria
Last year, Quick-Step Floors won a whopping 16 stages at Grand Tours. Fernando Gaviria alone achieved four victories at the Giro d'Italia. This season, however, the Colombian is at the start of the Tour de France, which is why he is a new signing Elia Viviani will be responsible for the victories in Italy. In 2015 he won his first and so far only stage in the Tour of Italy. However, he has already proven his good form this year, which is why he is rightly regarded as the nominally best sprinter in the Giro d'Italia. He mainly relies on starter Fabio Sabatini. Teammates Rémi Cavagna, Michael Morkov, Florian Senechal and Zdenek Stybar ensure a mass sprint. If it gets a little wavy, you will Maximilian schachmann send to flee. The German has already proven that he has all the signs for a successful breakaway. The Italians should be in the mountains Eros Capecchi achieve a stage win.
EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale: Chasing Stages Every Day
As the last team, EF Education has published the final squad for the Giro d'Italia. There were hardly any surprises. Unfortunately, Daniel Moreno, Pierre Rolland, Rigoberto Uran and Sep Vanmarcke will not be there. Nevertheless, the team from the USA sends a powerful team to the start – at least for stage wins. On the flat stages, EF Education is used for Sacha Modolo do the sprints. Tom Van Asbroeck, Mitchell Docker and Nathan Brown are the most important men for him. If the team management decides to attempt a breakaway, Thomas Scully, Hugh Carthy and Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski. Michael Woods can ensure success in the high mountains. The Canadian might even take a look at the overall standings, although the top 10 would probably be the maximum in this respect.
LottoNL-Jumbo: Van Poppel on the way to breakthrough
In general, the LottoNL-Jumbo team has blossomed a lot. In the meantime there are ranking drivers, classic hunters and sprinters in their own ranks. Even if the Giro d'Italia is more or less the second set at the start, it can ensure some success. This is how the Dutch team builds up in the overall standings George Bennett. The New Zealander has made strong progress over the past two years and is a strong contender for the top 10. Veteran Robert Gesink will act as a precious helper. Whilst Jos Van Emden is a contender in the two time trials, tries Danny Van Poppel fully into the sprints. The 24-year-old is about to make his breakthrough in 2018 and can advance it with a win at the Giro. On the other hand, Koen Bouwman, Gijs Van Hoecke and Bertjan Lindeman are responsible for the speed work in the field or for one or the other breakaway attempt. The Italian Enrico Battaglin is the man for LottoNL-Jumbo when the profile is a bit wavy. Then he can certainly triumph in the sprint of a decimated group.
Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia: Mareczko & the 7 wild runaways
In the Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia team, the roles are clearly divided. If the stage is flat, the Italians hope for a mass sprint. That's where your sprinter counts Jakub Mareczko to favorites. Depending on how he's feeling, the teammates will then either attempt a bunch sprint or jump into a breakaway themselves. Because apart from Mareczko, the Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia team has no other candidate for victory in its own ranks. Accordingly, the team management will fire all professionals as soon as Mareczko has no chance of success. The experienced Philip Pozzato but don't set the tone, because the Italian isn't there after all. He is replaced by Alex Turrin. On the wavy and even mountainous sections, we will often find the jerseys of the team in the escape group. The Italians Liam Bertazzo, Marco Coledan, Giuseppe Fonzi, Jacopo Mosca, Edoardo Zardini and the Albanian Eugert Zhupa ensure that the Giro d'Italia doesn't get boring. Due to the many attempts to be expected and the strength of Mareczko, a stage win for Wilier Triestina-Selle Italia is definitely within the realm of possibility.
