100% Giro...

Hi All,

I'm a bit behind this week on a variety of topics, so i'll eventually get around to catching up, but right now I need to concentrate on the biggest event so far on the cycling calendar, the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia. Although  the biggest two lightning rods (Contador and Armstrong) won't be on the start line in Amsterdam on Friday, it does have a loaded field - Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, and Alex Vinokourov, among others. Some years the Giro becomes a target for top Italian cyclists, but this year it seems as though one of the big names will capture the prestigious maglia rosa.

We are guaranteed a new victor in 2010, as last year's winner Denis Menchov is skipping the Giro and last year's runner-up (and 2007 winner) Danilo Diluca is serving two years in the penalty box for taking some drugs last season. The Italian hometown favorites are limited, as only Basso and 2004 Giro winner Damiano Cunego would seem to have any chance whatsoever. Alessandro Ballan and Franco Pellizotti are both being skipped due to "investigations" (more on this on Monday) so won't get a chance for hometown glory. 

The 3 week voyage around Italy begins as I said in Holland, with the first 3 stages in and around Amsterdam. The race then moves to Italy and really kicks off with Stage 4's team time trial. It then spends 8 of the next 9 stages on flattish stages before ending with an impressive 2 time trials and 4 high mountain stages in the last 8 stages. It should be an unreal selection process. The two time trials near the end could hurt Sastre's chances of winning the Giro, and should help racers like Christian Vande Velde, Vinokourov, Basso, and Bradley Wiggins move up near the top of the race. The race ends with two epic mountain top finishes before a 15 km  time trial on the last day. 

The sprinters will get a chance to break out their legs early and often with expected bunch sprints in several early stages. The Giro doesn't have a sprinter's jersey like the Tour, instead having a points jersey, the maglia rosso passione. The big names among the sprinters include Tyler Farrar, Alessandro Petacchi, and Robbie McEwen. Will one of them dominate like Mark Cavendish did last year? 

Canadian content in Italy - two Canadians on the start line Friday morning. Garmin's Svein Tuft will race his second Grand Tour in a row (last year's Vuelta was his first) while Michael Barry will race the Giro for the second year in a row, this year on Team Sky as he protects the team captain Bradley Wiggins. Good luck boys!

Predictions: since i'm never right - let's go with Vinokourov with a late flourish. Ok, I'm just hoping.

So who's not racing the Giro? Lance, Mark Cavendish, Levi Leipheimer, and Fabian Cancellara are all choosing to race Tour of California - which starts in ten days. Lots of news to come...