Giro KOM winner Koen Bouwman "incredibly excited" for mountainous 2023 route

The 2022 Giro d'Italia saw Koen Bouwman breaking through as a strong and consistent climber, headlining Jumbo-Visma's race where he took two stage wins from the breakaway and won the KOM classification.

He was at the route presentation in Milano this Monday, and has later had some observations. Stage 13 particularly popped to mind: “The stage has more than 5000 altitude metres. You pass the Gran San Bernardo that day. My cycling career began there in 2015 when I won a stage in the U23 category. Riding over it again would be incredible, and winning there would be a dream come true."

Bouwman's presence in the race is all but decided, but the team's Tour de France block is unlikely to change much, and the Dutchman finds himself in a good position to return for more success. "In the end, the team chooses where I start, but when I consider the upcoming edition's course, I am incredibly excited," he shared. 

"The Giro is notoriously challenging, and I predict that next year will be even more so because of the time trial kilometres and the challenging peaks. But because it will be very tough, there will also be enough days for breakaways," he concluded.

Details are naturally very vague, but there are small rumours that Wout van Aert could be riding the Giro in 2023, in order to favour a preparation for the World Championships which will take place in early August. It's proximity to the Tour de France may see several classics specialists choose the Giro, before resting and preparing for the worlds more optimally.