Alongside the aforementioned the riders, the start list for the Giro features a host of strong candidates for victory, all equally capable of featuring at the sharp end of the race and at the very least earning a spot on the final podium.
Michele Scarponi (Astana) enters on the back of fourth place finishes in both of the last two editions of the race, having previously won the Giro in 2011. The 34-year-old joins Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Merida) and Ivan Basso (Cannondale) as Italians who have already won the maglia rosa in their careers – even if none of the three have set the world alight this season.
Cunego’s team-mates Przemyslaw Niemiec and Diego Ulissi are also capable of competing, giving Lampre-Merida plenty of strength and options for the race – something Garmin-Sharp also boast.
Another former champion, Ryder Hesjedal, leads the team with Dan Martin a more-than capable Plan B. Martin’s cousin, Nicolas Roche (Tinkoff-Saxo), is also hoping for a strong ride given the race departs from his native Ireland, while Roche’s team-mate Rafal Majka is another outsider hoping to spring a surprise or two.
Young riders to look out for also include Wilco Kelderman (Belkin), who has enjoyed a strong start to the season having finished third in the youth classification last time out.
