Cycling: The experts agree. Tadej Pogacar will win the Giro d'Italia 2024. Even before the first kilometer has been driven, hardly anyone believes that there will be a really exciting duel for overall victory. We still look at the challengers of the two-time tour winner - and found them seven times.
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Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers)
At almost 38 years old Geraint Thomas to know every trick in the book. During his career, the Briton won the Tour de France, Paris – Nice, the Tour de Suisse, the Criterium du Dauphiné and the Tour de Romandie. At last year's Giro d'Italia he came second, beaten only by Primoz Roglic. There is no doubt: Geraint Thomas is one of the strongest GC riders of his time. And he is a phenomenon. Because while his opponents achieve good results almost the entire year, the experienced Geraint Thomas concentrates on just one highlight of the season - and that is the Giro d'Italia. Last year he had hardly had any good results before the Tour of Italy. But when it came down to it, he was totally there. Something similar can be expected this year. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the fight for a podium place.
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Daniel Martinez (Bora – hansgrohe)
Successful in 2022 Daniel Martinez the breakthrough. At Paris – Nice he came third and he even won the Tour of the Basque Country. He started 2023 for the Ineos Grenadiers team with a lot of euphoria. But there were no successes. His contract was not renewed. Now he is in the saddle for Bora – hansgrohe. He seems to be slowly getting back to his old form with the German racing team. It was already clear at the start of the season that Bora – hansgrohe would bet everything on the Tour de France card. All three GC riders, Primoz Roglic, Aleksandr Vlasov and Jai Hindley, will be sent to France. This gives Martinez the chance at the Giro. And he has to use it. A place in the top 5 in the GC is the minimum goal. If the strong time trialist really gets going again, he will also be a man for the podium.
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Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale)
It was only possible at the age of 25 Ben O'Connor a first respectable success as a GC driver. Since then, his name has been mentioned again and again whenever a major national tour or a week-long multi-stage race is scheduled. This was also the case at the Giro d'Italia 2024. Last year he made it to the podium at the Critérium du Dauphiné, but was then not in top form at the Tour de France. In 2022 in the top eight at the Ruta del Sol, the Tour of Catalonia, the Tour de Romandie, the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Vuelta a Espana. The Australian is undoubtedly one of the strongest riders in the rankings of the past two seasons. He has already proven this this year by coming second overall on the UAE Tour, fifth at Tirreno – Adriatico and second at the Tour of the Alps. With him is at Giro d'Italia 2024 definitely to be expected.
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Romain Bardet (dsm-unternehmenich PostNL)
Counting for over ten years Romain Bardet one of the strongest riders in road cycling. The Frenchman won three Tour stages, the mountain jersey and has already reached the podium in the Tour of France. The 2018 World Cup runner-up is not tired yet and is in impressively good form. He also has a bill to settle. In his two Giro starts, he once didn't get past seventh place, and the other time he didn't even finish. The Giro d'Italia 2024 should be his best. And the signs are good. At Liège – Bastogne – Liège he recently finished second. At the Tour of the Alps he came fifth overall. His form is building, just in time for the Tour of Italy. As a strong climber, he will lose a lot of time in the time trial. But if he continues to be so aggressive uphill, he could still be a candidate for the podium.
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Eddie Dunbar (Jayco – AlUla)
Eddie Dunbar had an outstanding year in 2023. As seventh overall in the Giro d'Italia, he finally made his breakthrough as a GC rider. He gained the trust of his team management and will be allowed to compete as captain in Italy again this year. Although he is not a world-class time triallist, the many difficult mountains will probably suit him and he will therefore like the profile of this tour of Italy. The problem: 2024 hasn't gone to his liking so far. He hasn't achieved a single good result yet and is miles behind his good form from last year. It is quite possible that he will be far behind after the first week and will then go for the stage win or the mountain jersey. If he wants to be on the podium at the Giro, he has to improve – immediately.
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Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma – LaB)
If a survey had been started at the beginning of the year as to who could most likely pose a threat to Tadej Pogacar at the Giro d'Italia 2024, the majority would probably have chosen Cian Uijtdebroeks fallen. The Belgian, who is only 21 years old, finished eighth at the Vuelta a Espana and is considered one of the greatest GC talents in the world. After a dispute within the team, he switched from Bora – hansgrohe to Visma – Lease a Bike. Since they will give everything for Jonas Vingegaard at the Tour de France, he will have the chance to make it to the overall ranking himself at the Giro d'Italia. But things just haven't worked out for him so far this year. Seventh place at Tirreno – Adriatico was followed by a DNF at the Tour of Catalonia. After that, he didn't run any more races and instead stayed at the altitude training camp. A good sign? Hardly likely. But still, Cian Uijtdebroeks is probably the only driver who could really challenge Tadej Pogacar - but he needs to be in top form for that!
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Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain – Victorious)
In the same survey at the beginning of the year, hardly anyone would have the name Antonio Tiberi called. Now, however – just a few days before the start of the Giro d'Italia 2024 – the Italian is considered a serious podium candidate. The 22-year-old finished eighth in Catalonia and third in the Tour of the Alps. If his form is right, he will now finish in the top three on a three-week tour for the first time. His talent is undisputed, but it is unclear within the team whether he will be the sole captain. With Damiano Caruso and Wout Poels he has two competitors in his own team. If he is strong, that will be his trump card, because then he can rely on two first-class and experienced helpers at his side.
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The Velomotion prediction for the Giro d'Italia 2024
We agree with public opinion: Tadej pogacar will enter the Giro d'Italia 2024 completely safely. Only a fall can stop him and we certainly wouldn't wish that on the likeable Slovenian. But behind that, things get exciting. Many riders hope to be on the podium alongside the two-time Tour winner. Has the best cards – purely in terms of skill set Cian Uijtdebroeks. But the Belgian has shown absolutely nothing in 2024 that suggests this. Completely different Antonio Tiberi. The Italian is getting into better and better shape, has a top team at his side and is motivated in his home country. Nevertheless, we know: Visma – Lease a Bike does a good job. Therefore, Cian Uijtdebroeks will be in top form in the end and secure second place - ahead of Antonio Tiberi. An experienced one is fighting behind it Geraint Thomas against Ben O'Connor for fourth place.