Analysis: 5 takeaways from the 2023 Giro d'Italia

Analysis. The 2023 Giro d’Italia is in the books. Although we perhaps didn’t get the battle we expected with the likes of Remco Evenepoel being forced to withdraw due to covid, we still saw plenty of drama, action and excitement. After three weeks of racing, here are five things to take away.

After Joao Almeida and Geraint Thomas put time into Primoz Roglic on stage 16, Eurosport analyst Jens Voigt made the somewhat premature declaration that "he probably has to try to hang on to third place." In hindsight of course, this was a foolish prediction.

Even on the decisive stage 20 time-trial, Roglic suffered a late mechanical issue that would have ruined the day for a lesser rider. The never-say-die spirit of the Slovenian, Jumbo-Visma leader however ensured that not even that late disaster would deny him the Maglia Rosa.

The moral of the story? Never write off Primoz Roglic!

Whilst he may have faded slightly in the final few days, not being able to capitalise on his stunning stage 16 victory, a first-career Grand Tour podium finish for Joao Almeida was still the clearest sign yet that he is a Grand Tour winner in waiting.

No Portuguese man has ever claimed a three-week stage race victory. Almeida though has now has finishes of 4th, 6th, 5th and 3rd at the four Grand Tours he has completed and at just 24 years of age he theoretically is yet to reach his peak.

At a UAE Team Emirates set-up that also includes the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Juan Ayuso, there is a possibility that in the coming years, the trio could dominate the Grand Tour scene.

On the second rest day of the race, Mark Cavendish announced that this would be his final year as a professional bike rider. Widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, Cavendish has long been one of the biggest names in the sport.

The truth is however, he isn't the rider he once was. Despite the fact the 38-year-old took an emotional, final stage victory in Rome and although admittedly his Giro d'Italia has been plagued by bad luck, the time is right for 'the Manx Missile' to call it a day.

With this announcement now public, Cavendish will be able to enjoy the final few months of his career and, if selected, a hero's welcome on his return to the Tour de France as he makes one last effort to take the outright record of most stage wins in the race's long and storied history.

One of the breakthrough stars of this year's Giro d'Italia, 25-year-old Canadian, Derek Gee came into the race as a relative unknown.

After four second placed finishes and two fourth placed efforts however, Gee has worked his way into the hearts and minds of many a cycling fan. His incredible breakaway efforts also ensured he finished in second of both the points classification and the King of the Mountains battle.

A performance such as this in the first Grand Tour of his career, now leaves the question, just how good could he be? With seemingly incredible powers of recovery and the ability to consistently pick the right breakaway, it surely won't be long before the perennial runner-up gets his big win.

Once again a Jumbo-Visma rider has won a Grand Tour and one of the keys to their success was the supremely impressive performances of super domestique, Sepp Kuss.

They say that through a three-week Grand Tour, every one of the GC favourites will have a bad day at some point. When Primoz Roglic had his moment of weakness on stage 16, he lost 25 seconds on the road to Joao Almeida and Geraint Thomas. If not for the heroic work of Kuss to keep his leader in contact however that gap could have been much worse and with the race decided by just 14 seconds, Kuss's work may have proved decisive.

Consistently, Grand Tour after Grand Tour, when the race reaches the high mountains and into the third week, Sepp Kuss is there as the last teammate standing, guiding his team leader to victory.