Cycling: Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) will not be looking back on the 2018 Giro d'Italia on a happy note. Although there were some bright moments, the disappointment will prevail. Just a few years ago, they were also unknown to cycling fans - until the big breakthrough came. Also this season we were able to observe a few young talents at the Tour of Italy. We saw 3 of the 5 discoveries coming before the start of the Giro d'Italia.
Richard Carapaz: Straight to #4 in the second Grand Tour
Team Movistar entered the Giro d'Italia without their stars Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa. Nevertheless, the Spanish team only narrowly missed the podium. The reason: Richard Carapaz! The slight man from Ecuador turns 25 today and is therefore still at the very beginning of his career. He fought a close battle with Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) for the white jersey of the best youngster. He was only beaten by 47 seconds. He also just missed the podium by 47 seconds. On his second Grand Tour, however, he was able to console himself with a stage win. On the eighth part he drove away from everyone uphill and slipped into the Maglia Bianca. We will definitely see Richard Carapaz again this year at the Vuelta a Espana. But then we won't be surprised when he's up front.
Sam Oomen: Already a noble helper and top 22 at the age of 10
Sam Oomen also competed in his second Grand Tour. The 22-year-old Dutchman finished third in the junior classification. But in contrast to the two men before him, he is firstly younger and secondly not the captain of his team. Sam Oomen turned out to be Tom Dumoulin's most important helper. Most of the time he was the last man on the side of the defending champion. He even appeared actively on the last mountain stage - after 19 hard stages - and prepared the final attacks of his captain. Being able to put up with three hard Grand Tour weeks so well at this age promises an extraordinary talent. So it won't be long before he can compete for the white jersey as captain of his team - or maybe even more. Because with his ninth place in the overall standings, the Dutch fans can look forward to another top tour driver.
Giulio Ciccone: Second in the mountains classification
The 23-year-old Giulio Ciccone already has his third Tour of Italy in his legs. While he was one of the youngest professionals to win a stage in his first year, this season he was wearing the mountain jersey. In this ranking, however, the man from the Bardiani-CSF team should only be enough for second place. Chris Froome (Sky) not only collected the Maglia Rosa in passing, but also points for the mountain prize. Nevertheless, Giulio Ciccone will be satisfied with his performance. He was able to sneak into a breakaway group several times. However, luck was denied to him. He left a particularly strong impression on the ninth stage, when he was able to stay with the favorites until the last kilometer and attacked several times on the way. His second victory of the day at the Giro d'Italia was within reach. But since Giulio Ciccone will probably be there again in 2019, we can definitely see him cheering again.
Nico Denz: Now he can also do long stages and mountain stages
It was damn close - twice! Nico Denz (AG2R La Mondiale) could have won on two stages. On the tenth part he arrived together with Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Merida) and narrowly lost the finish sprint of the longest stage of the 2018 Giro d'Italia. Amazing: He was able to catch up with Mohoric on the downhill and leave experienced riders behind, although Mohoric is considered one of the best downhillers in the world. Even more amazing was the performance a few days later. On the 15st stage he appeared again in a breakaway group and distanced himself from all his competitors on the climb. It could have worked out with the stage win here too, if it hadn't been for the sudden speed work of the EF Education team - to finish at #22 with the best rider. After being caught up, Nico Denz himself worked to help captain Alexandre Geniez, helping him to an excellent eleventh place in the overall standings. After his first professional podium, "the Jens Voigt of the new generation" will certainly be back on a Grand Tour soon. And then it might work with a stage win.
Ben O'Connor: Broken collarbone prevents top 10
Ben O'Connor (Dimension Data) is the unluckiest person at this year's Giro d'Italia. Actually, he was only planned as a helper for Louis Meintjes, but since the South African had to give up during the tour, he took over the role of captain himself. Up until the 19th stage, everything went according to plan for the 22-year-old. The Australian was twelfth in the overall standings – with a chance of making the top 10. But then he fell on a descent and broke his collarbone. First he got back on his bike and continued to ride, but finally he had to realize that the Alpine trilogy could not be mastered in such pain. After the necessary healing process, we will certainly see Ben O'Connor again, probably at the Vuelta a Espana.
