Jonathan Milan fired up before his first Grand Tour participation: "I feel good and will fully commit myself to my Bahrain Victorious teammates"

Jonathan Milan will start his first Giro d'Italia on Saturday. The strong Italian from Bahrain Victorious can't wait for his debut, but at the same time guards against overconfidence. After all, it is only his first Grand Tour.

Milan wants to give itself completely for leaders Bahrain Victorious. However, the track cyclist feels fine. "After Paris-Roubaix I rode the Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race, where I was able to do a good job with a view to the Giro. I trained a lot uphill, because that's something I'm going to have to do a lot in the next three weeks. I feel good and will fully commit myself to my Bahrain Victorious teammates, especially leaders Jack Haig, Damiano Caruso and Santiago Buitrago."

Milan feels good about that role, he tells Messaggero Veneto. "I will try to compete in the sprints, but I don't want to make any promises. It is better to start with your head down and work hard for the team, without wasting energy in the first week, to reach Rome that way."

Because that is the goal: to get to Rome. "As a child I already watched Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali and now I race alongside Remco Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic, who are going for the pink jersey. I'm thrilled to be making my debut and would love to finish under the Colosseum. When will I be satisfied? When the team tells me they are proud of me and the tank is not completely empty."