Racing

Giro d’Italia 2015: the contenders – form guide

Which of the maglia rosa contenders are in the best form?

Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing)

Nairo Quintana (Movistar) won the Giro d'Italia in 2014 but won't defend his title (Pic: Sirotti)
Tinkoff-Saxo's Alberto Contador is the pre-race favourite (Pic: Sirotti)
Richie Porte continued his superb start to the season at the Giro del Trentino (Pic: Sirotti)
Fabio Aru announced himself with victory on the Montecampione last year (pic: Sirotti)
Rigoberto Uran will join Pierre Rolland in spear-heading Cannondale-Garmin's new GC line-up (Pic: Sirotti)
Domenico Pozzovivo has been in good form, but needs to turn top-five finishes into podiums (Pic: Sirotti)
Damiano Caruso proved his Grand Tour pedigree last year, but BMC Racing's top-five target may be a bit too ambitious (Pic: Sirotti)
Ryder Hesjedal celebrates his 2012 triumph on the podium (pic: Sirotti)

Damiano Caruso (BMC Racing)

BMC Racing have pinned their hopes of a strong overall finish on winter signing Damiano Caruso, with directeur sportif Valerio Piva announcing it will be the Italian and not Darwin Atapuma who heads the team’s GC bid.

Neither man has really lit up the races they have contested so far this season, but Caruso did start strongly at the Tour de Romandie before fading in the final few days. After finishing ninth at the Vuelta a Espana last year, however, Caruso has proved he can challenge for a good overall placing at a Grand Tour. He claims the target at the Giro is at least top-ten, while the team hope it could even be top-five.

The world team time trial champions can, at the very least, hope to get off to a sterling start against the clock despite losing time in the discipline in Romandie.

Caruso’s hopes of reaching the podium appear slim but injuries and loss of form to those above him in the pecking order could open a few doors.

BMC Racing squad: Philippe Gilbert, CARUSO, Darwin Atapuma, Brent Bookwalter, Marcu Burghardt, Silvan Dillier, Stefan Kueng, Klaas Lodewyck, Rick Zabel.