Hugh Carthy praises his Maglia Rosa rivals: "Roglič and Evenepoel are the reference"

After top 10 general classification finishes in the last two years at the Giro d'Italia, Hugh Carthy has praised his rivals prior to having another crack at winning the Maglia Rosa.

“I start with the ambition to ride a general classification,” confirms the 28-year-old Brit who will lead the EF Education-EasyPost team at the 2023 Giro d'Italia tells WielerFlits. “The first few weeks you can stay fairly quiet, so I will first see how that goes. But I feel no stress and no pressure. That is the starting point for me.”

Carthy however admits that it won't be easy for him in fact he believes it could be a massive challenge if he wants to replicate the podium finish he achieved at the 2020 Vuelta a Espana. "Tougher than other years, that's for sure. But we don't come across things we've never seen before. I look forward. After the Tour of the Alps I first go home to train. The Giro is already getting close, but there is still time to think and rest," he explains.

Despite Primoz Roglic and Remco Evenepoel being the pre-race favourites, Carthy doesn't believe it will come down to a battle for third place for him and the other outsiders. “That is really different from a week-long stage race or a one-day race. In those kinds of competitions you see that the dominance is great, but in a grand tour more can go wrong," says Carthy. "It certainly won't be a battle for third place. That said, they will be the reference for most of the Giro. That is going to be very interesting."