Let's put it this way, almost as if it were fantasy cycling: next year among the Italians who would you bet on? to rank the Tour of Italy? We asked him Davide Cassani. The former coach has seen many eras and riders and more than others he has the pulse of the situation to make assessments without being overcome by the "anxiety" of the post Nibali.
Because, let's face it, without Shark there's a big void. And the athlete who follows him closely in terms of ranking guarantees is Domenico Pozzovivo. The Lucanian, despite the fact that he is no longer a child, currently does not have a team for 2023. At least not officially.
So Davide, who would you bet on among the Italians at the Giro?
The first one that comes to mind is Damian Caruso (in the opening photo, ed.). He can make the ranking. In my opinion he could have done it this year too, but the team diverted him to TourHe can be a real star. He's good at time trials and climbs, and he's consistent.
Other names?
There is Giulio Ciccone, but we still have to understand if he is there to make the rankings or to chase the stages. Of course, with a 71-kilometer time trial, his chances of finishing in the top six are becoming more difficult. The time trial is his weak point. Overall, I think we'll have to see if some youngsters can make a statement. It's undeniable that Nibali leaves a huge void. We should fight above all for the stages.
In light of what has been said about time trials, in theory there is a good athlete who is also strong uphill and is Mattia Cattaneo...
Yup, but we'll have to see what he'll do. Someone like him certainly has the characteristics to do well in the Giro, he has already achieved a good placing in the Tour. However if there were to be evenepoelWe already know it's supposed to do some work.
Based on the names mentioned, what exactly are we referring to when we talk about rankings?
To a top ten. Fighting for the podium isn't easy for these athletes. Caruso, with the exception of Caruso. who has already climbed there. He can aspire to confirm certain top positions... provided he races the Giro.
But at this point in his career and with the name he has made, Damiano couldn't symbolically bang his fists on the table and say to Bahrain-Victorious Who wants to go to the Giro? Or is it unthinkable in modern cycling?
Honestly, I don't know. I don't know the dynamics of that team. Certainly, given how things went last year. at the Giro di Sicilia he could have done the Giro and would have gone very strong. I hope he can have a say. Damiano is complete in every way.
Let's move on, Davide: other names?
They come to mind Blacksmith, Aleotti… Here Aleotti is a good rider. Giovanni is growing well and could be the Giro to see how far he can really go.
But it's at Bora-Hansgrohe: there are Hindley, Buchman, Vlasov, Higuita…
Well, the problem is always the same: understanding what kind of race they can run, being in a team with so many captains. In this sense also a Covi He could try to do well, although I think he's more into one-day races. Like it or not, they find themselves on teams where there are those aiming for the rankings... the high ones.
Otherwise we have to move to a "lower" step, in the sense of really young guys: Fortunato, Piganzoli... Or more experienced riders like Formolo or Masnada.
Starting from Formolo he has already tried to make the ranking, but now he has taken a different direction, that is, helping the captains. If Davide were to prepare for a Giro as a leader, he would get there, but in UAE Emirates he knows he has to work for others. For Masnada the same thing applies to Cattaneo. While the other two names are really young in fact. And Fortunato perhaps I see him better as a stage hunter.
And who could be a surprise?
Give me some names!
Villella, Battistella, Rota… They are certainly names that are a stretch for the classification of a major Giro…
Let's enjoy the successes of the boys and girls on the track, let's enjoy the interesting profiles we have. We've been used to good things lately. But that's not always the case; there are even long periods in which there's no Grand Tour champion. Belgium took more than 40 years to win one again. The French haven't won it since 1995 (Jalabert at the Return(Editor's note). So, in the end, there's a period like this. Nibali left us with nothing, but we have to have faith. Trust in our under 23s, there are some good ones, especially for one-day races.: Germans, Milesi...
This is true. But also We have hopes for the stage races: besides Piganzoli, there are Frigo, Garofoli…
E ZanaHe's also good and can do well. The important thing is to understand the problem and take action to solve it.
