Matxin reveals Jhonatan Narváez to be UAE's last Giro d'Italia rider - "We should be able to make the start"

UAE Team Emirates - XRG manager Joxean Matxin has provided an update on the health status of Ecuadorian national champion Jhonatan Narváez and has revealed that the classics specialist is the last missing piece in the team's Giro d'Italia lineup.

Narváez was the defending champion at the Tour Down Under and made the trip to Australia to start off the season in the familiar southern hemisphere. His form was undeniably great, with him matching teammate Jay Vine on the race-winning attack in the Corkscrew on stage 2.

The Emirati team had the race fully under control, but then crashes began taking a toll. Narváez crashed on stage 4 and suffered with compression fractures in the vertebrae. Vegard Stake Laengen and Mikkel Bjerg also crashed out of the race, and winner Jay Vine ended the race with a broken wrist after crashing into a kangaroo.

Narváez is set to miss out on Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders where he was set to be a key support rider for Tadej Pogacar. “I think — within the limits of my optimism — he should be able to make the start of the Giro d’Italia," the Spaniard said in words to Marca.

This reveals the Ecuadorian as the missing piece. Back in early December, CyclingUpToDate was able to understand that the lineup included João Almeida, Adam Yates, Jay Vine, Igor Arrieta, Florian Vermeersch, Jan Christen and António Morgado. Matxin at the time stated he did not want to share the riders' schedule publicly. But only now comes the confirmation that it is Narváez the eighth man.

As to his return to the peloton, it will still take at the very least two months. “It was, and still is, a terrible situation in terms of the outlook. Jhonatan can’t take part in the cobbled Classics, and that was the plan," he adds. "Let’s first focus on whether he can make the Giro — that would already be perfect. But maybe he’ll also make the Ardennes Classics.”

After last year's incredible support at Sanremo, Criterium du Dauphiné and Tour de France, it is possible that Narváez will not be taken back in a domestique role, but instead have it at the Giro d'Italia, with freedom to also chase stage wins.