"It's a Giro that appeals to champions, with iconic stages to add to their palmarès": Remco Evenepoel tipped to target 2027 Giro d’Italia

Ivan Basso already has a particular reason to look forward to the 2027 Giro d'Italia. The two-time winner sees several of the mountains that shaped his own career returning to the race, including the Mortirolo, Passo Gavia and Monte Zoncolan. For the former Italian professional, the route brings back memories of his victories in 2006 and 2010.

“There's something special about this route because it includes the iconic climbs from both of my Giro victories,” Basso said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Varese native has a particularly strong connection with the Valtellina region, where some of the most important stages of the 2027 edition will take place.

His relationship with the area goes back to childhood. His mother, Nives, has family origins in the Valtellina, and Basso spent much of his summer holidays there while growing up.

“I know the area because of my mother Nives's origins. I spent much of my childhood there during the summer. The first big mountain I climbed was Aprica, when I was eight; at eleven, it was the Stelvio; and my first Mortirolo, on a mountain bike, came when I was twelve,” he recalled.

The Mortirolo subsequently became one of the defining climbs of his professional career. Basso was the first rider over its summit in both his Giro-winning campaigns, although the circumstances surrounding those two occasions were very different.

“Everything changes. In 2006, the Giro was already won; in 2010, it was still to be conquered. They were different moments, just as my age and personal and professional situation were different,” he explained.

Basso believes the significance of certain mountains goes beyond their difficulty. “Some mountains determine your destiny. Anyone who wants to win the Giro has to prepare for them: even today, the contenders for the pink jersey are already imagining where they want to be on that day,” he said.

Asked what advice he would give to the riders preparing for the 2027 edition, he identified the Mortirolo stage as potentially decisive.

“I don't need to give any advice. There are champions who know how to win stages like those. But I believe the Mortirolo stage could determine who wins the Giro and who finishes on the podium. Subsequently, the Zoncolan stage will serve to crown whoever the winner will be,” he explained.

Basso believes the combination of iconic climbs and the opportunity to add another Grand Tour to their palmarès could make the Giro an appealing target.

“It's a Giro that appeals to champions, with iconic stages to add to their palmarès. They say Evenepoel will choose the Tour because of the time trial kilometers, but Remco isn't slow in the mountains either. The Giro is the Giro, and champions want to win it,” he said.

Among the Italian contenders, Basso highlighted Davide Piganzoli, Giulio Ciccone, Giulio Pellizzari and young talent Lorenzo Finn.

“I know Piganzoli well: looking ahead, he has one of the best balances between climbing ability and time-trialing skills. As someone from the Valtellina, I imagine he dreams of crossing the Mortirolo summit alone and launching himself towards victory in Aprica,” Basso said.

Ciccone, meanwhile, already has the experience and standing to compete with the strongest riders. “There's also Ciccone: he has the status of the great riders, as he demonstrated at the World Championships. He's a reliable option, he has maturity, and changing teams could give him an extra boost,” Basso explained.

Pellizzari was another name he mentioned. “Not to mention Pellizzari. Despite having some problems in the last edition, he's improving and has shown that he's strong in stage races,” he said.

Finally, Basso singled out Finn as a rider with considerable potential. “Finally, Finn: he's young, he's won the Giro Next Gen and the Tour de l'Avenir, and he has extraordinary characteristics. He belongs to the same generation as Seixas. If Paul has raced the Tour, I don't see why Finn couldn't do it. Just look at how strong Widar was at his first Vuelta and Seixas at his first Tour,” Basso concluded.