PREVIEW | Giro d'Italia 2023 stage 1 - Evenepoel and Roglic open GC battle, Ganna and Küng also favourites to win opening time-trial

Preview. The 2023 Giro d'Italia begins with an individual time-trial. Stage 1 sees a time-trial in the Adriatic coast with almost 20 kilometers in distance which could create big differences already on the opening day.

The Giro d'Italia will start with an individual time-trial from Fossacesia Marina to Ortona, across 19.9 kilometers that will set early gaps for the overall classification, and hand out the first pink jersey. It is an important day. Although in the big picture the differences will be small, in 20 kilometers there is without a doubt ground for the specialists to take a minute or over on those that will struggle against the clock, and most importantly it will already dictate order into the first mountain stage.

Estimated start and finish times for Giro d'Italia stage 1: 13:50-17:10CET

The stage is 19.9 kilometers in total, most of them flat and straightforward by the Adriatic sea. It's almost completely an effort for the purists, however nowadays the top time-trialists can also climb these types of hilltops with the best. The effort ends in the top of the town of Ortona where there will be a small ascent into the finish.

It will make no difference in bike choice, there is a 1.2 kilometers ascent at 5.2% which is the main one. There are quite a few switchbacks in these final kilometers, the effort ends with a slight uphill drag to the line.

The Weather

There will be a slight southeastern breeze. This means that a tailwind will exist in the time-trial and should be exposed. Higher speeds, marginally less aerodynamical difference, suits the big boys better than the 'aero bullets'.

The Favourites

Filippo Ganna - Winner of the opening time-trial in Tirreno-Adriatico. The Italian is racing at home and he's usually a specialist on opening TT's, here he will be a big weapon. Coming off a successful classics block his form is uncertain, but should be good as this is a big goal in his season. The weather favours him, he should be at the same level or even a bit below the rest in the flat section. Clearly he will be able to climb well in the end but it may be a very tight battle.

Remco Evenepoel - Nothing is impossible. I think sometimes that on this terrain the likes of Ganna and Küng will top him but honestly even that may not be the case. It's not an ideal TT for him as it's almost pan-flat, but the final hilltop plays in his favour. The GC will be the main goal, but naturally he will give it his all and could very well ride into a win.

Primoz Roglic - Roglic hasn't raced since Catalunya, there's a good chance he isn't yet at his very best level. The Slovenian knows how to prepare for a race and will be hitting good numbers. He's in the same situation as Evenepoel essentially, his only TT was the first race day of the season where he wasn't at his best, it also remains to be seen if his shoulder injury is completely behind him.

Stefan Küng - The Swiss beat Cavagna and Ganna in the Volta ao Algarve time-trial. He's still got it in the legs, and in the cobbled classics he was again in great form, finishing Roubaix next to Ganna in fourth place. Exact same preparation, it won't be easy for Küng to take the win but if he does I dare to say it would be the biggest win of his career.

The level is very strong however. The level of the best time-trialists is so high that I can't say there's been a particular affluence of specialists because of the favourable time-trial quantity, but many of the GC riders themselves are quite good against the clock. Geraint Thomas, João Almeida, Lennard Kämna, Thymen Arensman and Brandon McNulty are all very possibly cards to finish in the Top10. All the contenders for pink must go 100% already to limit losses on the main two favourites.

Within time-trialists and rouleurs we'll find other contenders such as Bauke Mollema, Josef Cerny, Michael Hepburn, Bruno Armirail, Alberto Bettiol, Edoardo Affini, Ben Healy, Nico Denz, Andreas Leknessund, Jan Tratnik, Will Barta and Thibault Guernalec could all be in the fight. I wouldn't be surprised to see both Mads Pedersen and Michael Matthews already trying to snatch some points.

Prediction Giro d'Italia 2023 stage 1:

*** Filippo Ganna, Remco Evenepoel
** Primoz Roglic, Stefan Küng
* Geraint Thomas, João Almeida, Lennard Kämna, Josef Cerny, Edoardo Affini, Ben Healy, Jan Tratnik

Pick: Filippo Ganna