Giro d'Italia | INEOS Grenadiers hunt pink jersey with Tao Geoghegan Hart and Geraint Thomas, Filippo Ganna chases stage wins
Cycling
INEOS Grenadiers head into the Giro d'Italia with high ambitions. A very strong and complete lineup head to Italy in pursuit of success in the overall classification, as the British teams features many quality climbers including Tao Geoghegan Hart and Geraint Thomas in pursuit of success.
"As a team, we’ll draw on the experience of Geraint and Tao in the tightly contested general classification," team principal Rod Ellingworth told in a press release. "Filippo’s pedigree and local popularity speaks for itself, so we expect all eyes to be on him at the opening time trial, with the prize of the maglia rosa up for grabs."
Tao Geoghegan Hart has won the recent Tour of the Alps and heads to the Corsa Rosa as the main weapon for INEOS. After a very consistent spring, the 2020 winner will be a contender for the podium if not more, after getting two stage wins and a very controlled and confidence-inducing race from the team last week.
Behind him as co-leader will be Geraint Thomas, who has had problems with illnesses early in the season but is building back his form. After featuring on the podium of the Tour de France the Welshman - who will like the time-trialing filled route - will be an outsider for the top of the standings. They will be joined by both Thymen Arensman and Pavel Sivakov in the mountains, both riders who have for the past year enjoyed success of their own and could potentially fight for the GC in a strategical move from INEOS.
Laurens de Plus has shown great form at the Tour of the Alps and is the one rider that is guaranteed to be on domestique duties in the mountains from day one. However the team features a whole lot more talent. Experience has also been taken into consideration, with Salvatore Puccio and Ben Swift riding their 10th and 5th Giro mostly to support the team through the treacherous flat finales.
Filippo Ganna concludes the lineup, returning to a race where he has achieved much success in the past. Although the final one should not suit his skills, the Italian has two time-trials in which he could take wins, including the opening day where the pink jersey will be on the line. After a strong set of performances in the spring classics Ganna now looks to also use his power in support of the team in the flat days, as well as to always keep the team in the front in the hilly days and wherever is necessary.
INEOS Grenadiers for Giro d'Italia:
Thymen Arensman, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Geraint Thomas, Ben Swift, Pavel Sivakov, Filippo Ganna, Laurens De Plus and Salvatore Puccio.
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🗣️ “Our first Grand Tour line-up of 2023 is an exciting rider group and shows real intent in how we want to take on the Giro” – Rod Ellingworth Read more about our #Giro squad and get the thoughts of the riders here: ineosgrenadiers.com/article/ineos-…
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