Giro d'Italia

Thursday, 08 May 2008 11:49

The Giro d'Italia is one of the three Grand Tours on the world cycling calender. Known as the Giro, the three week jaunt across Italy is famous for its' blistering speeds and leg burning climbs through the Dolomites. And it is here that two things happen. Generally a new star is born for the tifosi (fans) to love and the mountains will have their say as to who wears the Maglia Rosa, the pink jersey. This is the 91st running of this great race and form coming into this is always a little tricky to judge. But this year's edition of the Giro has four time trials and a last week spent in the mountains to make it one of the toughest courses in years.

The big team of this race will have to be Astana. They are seething still about their Tour de France exclusion and would be going to the Giro with a bus full attitude. Oh, and the winner of last year's Tour de France in Alberto Contador. He will be assisted by Levi Lepheimer and Andreas Kloden who has just come off a win in the Tour of Romandie. But you cannot write off the Italians in this event. Local riders love this race with a passion and some will base a whole season around grabbing one stage of glory.

The first week is generally left to the speedsters and Australians will be keenly watching the form of Robbie McEwen and Graeme Brown. They will have some very quick company with Mark Cavendish and Andre Greipel keen to notch up wins early.

So, now we are getting to the tough part of the season. The world famous www.firstoffthebike.com fearless predictions for the 2008 Giro d'Italia:

1. Alberto Contador
2. Andreas Kloden
3. Danilo Di Luca
4. Riccardo Ricci
5. Vladimir Karpets

This is a tough one to call but also keep a look out for McEwen in the first week and Brad Magee's return to a race he has had success in. It is going to be one wild ride.