Tenth last time out, Domenico Pozzovivo has enjoyed a consistent start to this season and enters the Giro on the back of second place at the Giro del Trentino.

The Italian hasn’t finished outside of the overall top ten at any of his races so far this season – contributing to a great start to the campaign for Ag2r-La Mondiale – and his form at the Giro del Trentino suggest he is approaching peak form in perfect time, too.

Only the form of Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) and a weak team time trial by Ag2r-La Mondiale cost Pozzovivo his first victory of the season at the Giro del Trentino, but as a marker of form, it shows the 31-year-old is still in the same great shape which has served him well this season.

Backed by the likes of Alexis Vuillermoz – who helped Carlos Betancur win this year’s Paris-Nice – Pozzovivo may not feature as a favourite compared to Rodriguez and Quintana but if he stays in his current form he will certainly be a contender.