Racing

Giro d’Italia 2015: the contenders – form guide

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

Others to watch

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)

Others to watch

Alberto Contador and team-mate Ivan Basso are not the only former winners on the startline for this year’s race, with Ryder Hesjedal (Cannondale-Garmin) and Damiano Cunego (Nippo-Vini Fantini) also set to roll out.

Hesjedal rode well in the mountains last year after a bitterly disappointing start to the race, when co-leader Dan Martin crashed out in the stage one team time trial, and the Canadian’s second place on stage 16 behind Nairo Quintana (Movistar) lifted the 2012 champion to ninth overall.

Cunego, meanwhile, has dropped down to ProContinental level this season after leaving Lampre-Merida but has found some form of late, finishing fifth at the Giro del Trentino.

Also on form is 25-year-old Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha), who seemingly came from nowhere to win the Tour de Romandie, beating the likes of Quintana, Uran and Chris Froome in the process. Watch this space.

Sprinters

Away from the GC, Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) will be bidding for sprint success, facing off with the likes of Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing) and last year’s stage winner Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEDGE).