Giro d'Italia: Giro d'Italia 2019: All Teams, Riders & Goals (2/3)

Cycling: In the second part of our big preview we present all Giro d'Italia teams, which mainly rely on a top sprinter. Also present: the German team Bora – hansgrohe! Here is the first part.

Bora – hansgrohe: double leadership for sprints & mountains

With two captains, the German team Bora – hansgrohe wants to take the Giro d'Italia by storm. If we look at the full squad of eight, however, we can see that the focus is on the sprint. Pascal Ackermann should ensure stage victories directly in his first Grand Tour. He has enough opportunities for that. Numerous mass sprints are expected up to the eleventh stage. The German master is supported above all by Rüdiger Selig and Michael Schwarzman. In preparing for the sprint, Pascal Ackermann's two compatriots are responsible for ensuring that he is perfectly positioned and, at best, piloted for the last 200 meters. In order for the breakaways to be caught, predominantly Pawel Poljanski and Caesar Benedetti do the tracking work at the head of the main field.

All in all, we come up with five pros from Bora - hansgrohe, who are more responsible for the mass sprints. Only three riders remain for the Maglia Rosa mission. The coveted jersey can only conquer and, in the best case, win Rafal Majka. But the Pole has been chasing his top form for quite some time. He celebrated his last victory in September 2017 at the Vuelta a Espana. Everything would have to come together perfectly for him if he were to compete at this year's Tour of Italy want to land on the podium. He is supported by David Formolo, who presented himself in excellent condition at Liège - Bastogne - Liège. Both are also capable of a stage win, like Jay McCarthy. However, the Australian is not as strong in the high mountains. He prefers hilly terrain. With his sprint strength, he can then secure a day's win out of a medium-sized group.

Deceuninck – Quick-Step: Viviani & Jungels should fix it

Last year won Elia Viviani at the Giro d'Italia the points classification and four stages. Based on the last ten days, it is rather questionable whether the Italian will torment himself through the entire three weeks this year. However, he is definitely to be expected in the first half of the Giro. As usual, the mass sprints are exemplary Fabio Sabatini approached. With Michael Morkov and Maximiliano Richeze missing two important men in the sprint train, other professionals have to step in for them. Florian Senechal is made for it. The Frenchman is not only a passable sprinter, but also a tough pacemaker. Edges of the wind are no problem for him - and he likes to help bring back breakaways. A similar type of driver should Mikkel Frölich Honoré be, but the Dane will not take on any important tasks in his first Grand Tour.

As usual, everyone in the wolf pack has to work together to achieve their goals. On flat stages, not only the specialists just mentioned will have to work hard, but also the rest of the nominees. Even if James Knox and Pieter Serry prefer slightly hilly terrain, we will see them every now and then in the chase. When the sprinters' days are numbered, they take care of their ranking drivers Bob Jungels, or join the group with a license. Because the Luxembourg champion has often proven that he can fight his way through the mountains alone. In 2019, however, he wants to finally achieve more on a Grand Tour. So far, sixth place in 2016 has been the highest of emotions. The last man at his side will probably be on all mountain stages Eros Capecchi be. The Italian has a lot of experience and is good for a break himself.

Groupama - FDJ: A bitter Giro d'Italia is imminent

The Groupama – FDJ team has been known in cycling for many years. The French team can compete with the best drivers in the world on almost any terrain. However, at the Giro d'Italia 2019 they could become the biggest disappointment. If we look at the nominees, we actually only discover one potential winning driver. But also Arnaud Demare is not in the best shape at the moment. He himself has already noted in an interview that he has self-doubt. He only rides the Giro d'Italia to finally regain the necessary self-confidence for the upcoming Tour de France. Not good conditions for a successful tour. After all, he can in person Jacopo Guernieri rely on a strong start. Able to induce a mass sprint Tobias Ludvigsson, Miles Scotson, Ramon Sinkeldam and Olivier LeGac. However, they may also be sent in groups should confidence in Captain Arnaud Démare's strength falter.

And that brings us to the problem. Should Arnaud Démare - actually as expected - not call up his best performance, then Groupama - FDJ will hardly be able to achieve good results at this year's Giro d'Italia. If you don't manage to be part of a successful escape group on flat stages, only the slightly hilly sections remain. Ignatas Konovalovas has its strengths here. However, if the team management burns him for Arnaud Démare, the Lithuanian is also no longer an option. A big surprise could then Valentin Madouas advance. The 22-year-old Frenchman is driving his first Grand Tour, but is regarded by experts as a man of the future. His strengths are in the mountains - exactly where Groupama - FDJ has no one else in the squad. Therefore, the eighth of the Amstel Gold Race will enjoy all freedoms - and maybe save the balance sheet of his team.

Lotto – Soudal: Only for the overall ranking nobody is there

The Belgian Equipe Lotto - Soudal sends a very strong team to the Giro d'Italia. Several professionals are able to ensure success, especially sprinters caleb ewan Within the first eleven stages, the little Australian has numerous chances to win the day and maybe even try for the Maglia Ciclamino. As usual, the sprint is approached by Jasper De Buyst and Roger Kluge. This trio has repeatedly shown that they harmonize splendidly and can build up a fast sprint train. In order to make a mass sprint possible in the first place, among other things Adam hansen and Tosh Van der Sande take over the tracking work in the main field.

It is also considered to be the perfect pacemaker Victor Campenaerts. But as the holder of the world hour record, the team management would be well advised to take it easy on him for the time trials. Right at the start in Bologna, however, it could already be the case that Lotto - Soudal can look forward to the Maglia Rosa thanks to him. But the Belgian team is not only to be taken seriously in the time trials and sprints. They will also try one or the other on hilly terrain and in the mountains. Jelle Vanendert and thomas degendt but can't wait until the end. The two Belgians will certainly sneak into breakaway groups several times and then fight for the stage win from there. For De Gendt, the king of the breakaway, the Giro will probably only really start from stage #12. If he catches ten good days, he might even be able to fight for the mountain jersey.

Dimension Data: Hardly any drivers with good form at the start

Dangerous: Team Dimension Data is in good shape for the Tour of Italy without a real star. Nevertheless, you have a professional in your luggage for each area in the hope that the form will come within the three weeks. Mention should be made in this regard Giacomo Nizzolo. The Italian sprinter won the points classification in 2015 and 2016, but after an injury he has been chasing his best for many months now. He has only won three races since October 2016. In doing so, he never encountered really strong competitors. Therefore, having to compete with the strongest sprinters in the world in the coming weeks, a stage win seems almost impossible. At least he can thanks Mark Renshaw and Ryan Gibbons hope for an excellent sprint preparation. If nothing goes together, the team leader might even switch roles.

Due to the sprinter problem, Team Dimension Data's hopes are pinned on escape groups. Enrico Gasparotto and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier can calculate chances on hilly terrain. However, this requires a good deal of luck, because these stages in particular are also highly sought after by other teams. Scott Davis and Danilo Wyss will probably have to do mainly helper services. In a group, they can only add value on fairly easy stages. So the prospects for Dimension Data aren't exactly rosy. It would be all the more important to be a classification driver Ben O'Connor to pilot heil up to the twelfth stage. If it goes into the high mountains, he can no longer be supported by his teammates anyway. If the Irishman has his form under control, he could bring in the necessary sense of achievement for his team in the second half.

UAE Team Emirates: Hoping for Gaviria & escape groups

Fernando Gaviria is the captain of UAE Team Emirates. The Colombian has been one of the strongest sprinters in the peloton for some time. He has already won stages in the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. This season he has already been able to win three days. As a classic sprinter, Fernando Gaviria is also very dependent on his teammates. His compatriots are particularly important to him Juan Sebastian Molano, the Italian Simone Consonni and Tom Bohli. Together they can keep the pace up for the last few kilometers and pull on the bunch sprint for their captain. If this succeeds, Fernando Gaviria could become the series winner again. Two years ago he won four stages at the Giro d'Italia.

But the UAE Team Emirates is not putting everything on the sprint card at the Giro d'Italia 2019. With Valerio Conti and Marco Marcato two professionals were nominated who like to be seen in escape groups. If it gets slightly bumpy and the sprinter teams get stuck, their moment could have come. If it gets a little more difficult, walk Jan Polanc and Diego Ulissi to action. Above all, the latter can be described as a co-favourite, if only a small main field reaches the goal. In a sprint, hardly anyone thumbs his nose at him. Jan Polanc has already won two Giro stages in his career. From stage #12 at the latest, you can expect him in breakaway groups.