Cycling: In the last part of the team presentation for the Tour of Italy we devote ourselves to those 5 Giro d'Italia teams with the highest starting numbers. How strong is top favorite Simon Yates' team? And what are the goals of the German team DSM?
Click here for the Giro team presentation part #1
Click here for the Giro team presentation part #2
Click here for the Giro team presentation part #3
BikeExchange
Is the team too weak for Simon Yates?
We have often seen in cycling that it is difficult to win a Grand Tour without a strong team. Let's take a look at Top-Favorit's Giro line-up Simon Yachts, slight doubts arise. In addition to the extremely strong Brit, there were hardly any strong mountain riders on the start list for BikeExchange. Only Mikel Nieve and Nick Schultz pass as real climbers. Tanel Kangert also has its strengths going uphill, but at the age of 34 it has unfortunately already passed its prime. The other Giro starters in the BikeExchange team feel more comfortable on flat terrain. Of course you also need support there as a classification driver, but the balance doesn't seem to be optimal in the Australian team. If it gets tight for Simon Yates in the mountains - especially in the third Giro week - and he needs a strong team, then this could be the deciding factor for his competitors.
The 8 Giro starters for BikeExchange
181) Simon Yates
182) Michael Hepburn
183) Christopher Juul Jensen
184) Tanel Kangert
185) Cameron Meyer
186) Mikel Nieve
187) Nick Schultz
188) Callum Scotson
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DSM
Hindley & Bardet for the general classification
A lot has changed in the squad of the German team DSM with this transition to the season. We'll get the new orientation at the Tour of Italy clear to see. With newcomer Romain Bardet and last year's Giro runner-up Jay Hindley one even goes to Italy with a double leadership. Both have the ability and the ambition to get on the podium. Everything at DSM is subordinated to this goal. With all his experience he could Nicholas Roche to be an important man. The two can also go up in the mountains Chris Hamilton and Michael Storer build. The latter in particular has shown itself to be stronger and stronger in the races leading up to the Giro d'Italia. It is quite possible that he will eventually become a noble helper. The three Germans in the team are more responsible for support on the level. Nico Denz is known to be a strong outlier on flat and slightly hilly terrain. Nickias Arndt and Max Kanter are strong in jumping, will maybe even try their luck in bunch sprints.
DSM is driving the Giro d'Italia 2021 with these 8 men
191) Jai Hindley
192) Nikias Arndt
193) Romain Bardet
194) Nico Denz
195) Chris Hamilton
196) Max Kanter
197) Nicholas Roche
198) Michael Storer
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Qhubeka-Assos
Good giro, bad giro
If you look at the line-ups of all teams, you can see relatively quickly whether the Tour of Italy will be successful for this or that team or not. In the case of Qhubeka – Assos, such an assessment is difficult to make. With James Nizzolo the team has a strong sprinter. But the reigning European champion hasn't won anything for a few months - apart from the Clasica de Almeria. time trialist Victor Campenaerts has always lost out in the fight against the clock. And class and climbers Dominic Pozzo alive hasn't made it into the top 2019 in any race since June 8. Now 38 years old, the Italian simply seems to be on the decline. If the negative trend continues for all three professionals at the Giro d'Italia 2021, there will hardly be anything to celebrate at Qhubeka - Assos. However, if they return to their old strength, they are able to ride for victories on any terrain. In addition, the Swiss can Kilian Frankiny go in groups and compete for stage wins. And the German Max Walscheid could step in as a sprinter.
Qhubeka – Assos and the 8 Giro starters
201) Giacomo Nizzolo
202) Victor Campenaerts
203) Killian Frankiny
204) Bert Jan Lindemann
205) Domenico Pozzovivo
206) Mauro Schmidt
207) Max Walscheid
208) Lukasz Wisniowski
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Trek-Segafredo
Nibali for the GC, Mollema on a stage hunt
At Trek – Segafredo it is also unclear how strong the captains of the Giro d'Italia 2021 are to be assessed. Vincenzo Nibali is automatically traded as a co-favorite as a four-time winner of a Grand Tour. After all, he has already made it onto the podium 6 times here in Italy. But recently he didn't bring his top form onto the road. His last stage win was at the 2019 Tour de France. Many experts doubt that the Italian can do it again. After all, he can build on the usual strong team. Build Mollema would probably be able to finish in the top 10 overall. But the Dutchman probably only wants to go hunting for stages this year. The same applies to Giulio Ciccone. In addition to a stage success, the Italian also has his eye on the mountain jersey. With Gianluca Brambilla and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier are two more strong climbers in the Trek – Segafredo squad. And even in the sprint, the team can be successful. Because with Matteo Moschetti you have an absolute top sprinter in your own ranks. He is supported by Koen de Kort and Jacobo Mosca.
The 8 Giro starters from Trek – Segafredo
211) Vincenzo Nibali
212) Gianluca Brambilla
213) Giulio Ciccone
214) Koen DeKort
215) Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier
216) Bauke Mollema
217) Jacopo Mosca
218) Matteo Moschetti
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UAE
You will be seen on every terrain
In the UAE team, the Giro d'Italia is also run on several tracks. Fernando Gaviria should ensure daily successes in the mass sprints. He is supported by his drivers Maximilian Richeze and Juan Sebastián Molano. This trio is one of the strongest sprinter trios of our generation. After his corona infection last year, Gaviria is struggling to get in top form. If the road rises a bit and a sprint is ruled out, the captain is called Diego Ulissi. The experienced Italian is difficult to defeat in a crisp uphill sprint. In the high mountains is then for Davide formolo driven, who could possibly even have his sights set on the overall classification. At least he's a man for a dangerous breakaway and a corresponding stage win in the mountains. Also Valerio Conti and Joe Dombrowski have their strengths in climbing.
Team UAE at the Giro d'Italia 2021
221) Davide Formolo
222) Valerio Conti
223) Alessandro Covi
224) Joe Dombrowski
225) Fernando Gaviria
226) Juan Sebastian Molano
227) Maximiliano Richeze
228) Diego Ulisi
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