The Giro d'Italia has its first confirmed lineup - Uno-X led by former pink jersey Andreas Leknessund and Erlend Blikra

The Giro d'Italia is getting up to speed and with the Grande Partenza only nine days away, we have the confirmation of the first lineup. Uno-X Mobility, the World Tour's most recent debutant, have announced their '8' including a former pink jersey in Andreas Leknessund.

The Norwegian team is keeping some of its main firepower saved for the Tour de France, and so the likes of Tobias Johannessen, Soren Waerenskjold and Magnus Cort Nielsen are absent from the Corsa Rosa. But the team does not start without its ambitions.

In the main spot will be Andreas Leknessund, who in 2023 led the race for five stages and finished eighth in the overall classification following a successful early breakaway. He is also the current national champion of Norway, whom the team will push forward.

In the climbs the team can also hope to have some impact through the presence of Johannes Kulset who has admitted in the past he wants to contest for the overall classification. Whilst his recent results have not been the most promising, the 22-year may have a shot at the Top10 following the string of withdrawals from other GC contenders recently.

The main opportunity to grab a stage win for the red and orange squad should be Erlend Blikra. The sprinter finished second twice at the UAE Tour to Jonathan Milan and won a stage at the Tour of Oman, and will be one of the cards to play for the fast finishes; with Adne Holter backing him up.

The lineup is complete by classics specialists Markus Hoelgaard and Fredrik Dversnes who should also chase breakaways for success; whilst Martin Tjotta and Sakarias Koller Loland complete the lineup.