"I have the legs to stay with the best" - Lorenzo Fortunato heading to the Giro d'Italia full of confidence

Lorenzo Fortunato, a stage winner at the Giro d'Italia in 2021, will return to the start line of the three-week stage race on Saturday full of confidence after an impressive run of form so far for him in 2023.

“I’m fine, I’m really fine, and the victory in Asturias I think has shown especially to myself that the work done so far has paid off," Fortunato revealed in a discussion with the official website of his EOLO-Kometa team after their official Giro lineup was unveiled. "My way of racing after the last win won’t change, of course I have the knowledge that I’m going really strong on the climbs and that I have the legs to stay with the best, these last days have given me even more conviction after the excellent days at the Tour of the Alps.”

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So far in 2023, the 26-year-old Italian has pulled off some impressive performances at the Tour of the Alps, finishing fifth in the general classification and most recently winning the Vuelta a Asturias. Now Fortunato is hoping to carry that good form into the Giro d'Italia and potentially even push for a top 10 finish overall after finishing 15th and 16th the last two years.

"Fortunato will be our reference in the mountain stages and Albanese for the mid-mountain and explosive finishes," says Alberto Contador. "These are riders with real chances to win a stage, to be protagonists. The riders are motivated, the whole group has worked together to give support and protection, as well as looking for the leading role in the breakaways. I am very confident and excited because EOLO KOMETA will do a great job.”