“The level will be incredibly high this year” - Gerben Thijssen looks ahead to his Giro d’Italia debut

Having had a strong start to the season with a victory at the Trofeo Palma and a stage win on the opening day of the Volta ao Algarve, where he also won the points classification, Gerben Thijssen is now looking ahead to his Giro d’Italia debut in May.

This year’s Corsa Rosa will be the third Grand Tour of the Belgian sprinter’s career, having previously ridden the Vuelta a España twice. In an interview with WielerFlits at Paris-Nice, Thijssen said “if I had to name a race that I want to win this year, it would be a stage in the Giro”.

Thijssen will be up against stiff competition in the sprints at the Giro d’Italia though, with the likes of Caleb Ewan, Fabio Jakobsen, Olav Kooij, Jonathan Milan and Sam Welsford all set to be in attendance. On the calibre of sprinters at this year’s race, Thijssen said “if you can win a stage in the Giro this year, it may be comparable to a stage victory in the Tour in recent years. The level will be incredibly high this year”.

In the build up to the Giro d’Italia, the Intermarché-Wanty rider is currently racing Paris-Nice, with Danilith Nokere Koerse, Bredene Koksijde Classic, Classic Brugge-De Panne, La Roue Tourangelle and Scheldeprijs also on his schedule this Spring before heading to Italy.