Cycling: The Tour de France was already a highlight. But the Giro d'Italia topped this again. The overall winner was only decided on the last day - and with a difference of only 39 seconds. We look back on what is probably the most exciting Grand Tour in many years.
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HERE you go directly to the article about the Giro d'Italia 2020.
Was this year's Tour of Italy the best Grand Tour in recent years for you?
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Favorites die at the 103rd Giro d'Italia
When the Giro d'Italia started in Monreale on October 3rd, the pundits had a few favorites in mind. If we compare this list of favorites from back then three weeks later with the top 5, we will probably hardly find a match. An unparalleled death of favorites afflicted the Tour of Italy. Right at the start he crashed Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) out of the race. Already on the third stage said goodbye with Geraint Thomas (Ineos) the absolute top favorite for overall victory. After two falls he had to leave the Giro d'Italia on the Etna stage. For Ineos, the pink chapter was over - at least that's what we thought. Now we all know better. Then on the first rest day it hit Simon yates (Mitchelton – Scott) due to a positive corona test. The team of Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo – Visma) withdrew due to the risk of corona. And Vincenzo Nibali (Trek – Segafredo) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) just didn't seem to be in top form.
The youngsters and helpers determine what happens in the race
If you want to be successful in cycling, you always have to have a plan B in your pocket. The drivers of the Ineos team showed us that this season. Actually, you would have the Tour de France with Egan Bernal and the Tour de France with Geraint Thomas Tour of Italy want to win. It came very differently. Now there are eight stage victories and the overall victory with the 25-year-old Tao Geoghegan Hart to book. It was similar with the German team Sunweb. Stage wins should come with Michael Matthews. Instead, he was eliminated and suddenly Wilco Kelderman went for a walk in the pink jersey. And in the end it turned out very differently. The 24 year old Jay Hindley took over the helm and ended up second overall. Before that, the only 22-year-old shaped the game for many days Joao almeida (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) the racing action. After three intense weeks in Italy, the three best youngsters are among the top four in the overall standings.
Strong Austrians: Konrad & Pernsteiner in the top 10
There is also history to report from Austria. Because never before have two riders from the Alpine Republic made it into the top 10 of a Grand Tour. Patrick Conrad (Bora – hansgrohe) started the tour as a double lead with his Polish teammate Rafal Majka and ultimately placed in front of him. With eighth place, he confirms his strong performance from 2018, when he was already seventh overall here. It almost even worked out with a stage win. The same applies to compatriots Herman Pernsteiner (Bahrain-McLaren). Incidentally, as a helper to Pello Bilbao, he managed to finish in the top 10 himself - and that in his first Giro d'Italia.
Absolute dominance: Démare sprinted in a different league
We would not have told the full story of the Giro d'Italia if the name Arnaud Demare (Groupama – FDJ) would not fall. The French champion soon exchanged his championship jersey for the Maglia Ciclamino and didn't give it up again until Milan. Despite fierce resistance from Peter Sagan (Bora – hansgrohe) Arnaud Démare did not let himself be disturbed. Even on wavy sections he could not be shaken off. If it then came to a direct duel against the three-time world champion, he was always at a disadvantage – and clearly so. Arnaud Démare won four stages and together with Filippo Ganna (Ineos) most of this year's Giro d'Italia. In this form we can look forward to welcoming him back to the Tour de France in 2021.
