The GC Contenders For The 2018 Giro d’Italia

2018 Giro d’Italia - Froome Vs Dumoulin

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The highly anticipated 2018 Giro d’Italia will be headlined by Chris Froome, who despite all controversy hopes to win a third consecutive grand tour this spring. The three-week-long road to the maglia rosa will be hotly contested, with only Movistar seemingly holding back talent for the Tour de France.

1. Tom Dumoulin

The defending Giro d’Italia champion will attempt to defend his title following a spring that can be described as nothing short of trying. The Dutchman abandoned Tirreno-Adriatico in March and has not raced since Milan-San Remo. 

Despite his setbacks, this season the 27-year-old from Maastricht remains a distinct favorite if he has managed to find his form in the past month away from racing. 

In fact, don’t be surprised to see him in the maglia rosa after the 10-kilometer opening time trial in Jerusalem.


2. Chris Froome

Froome is a seemingly unbeatable grand tour rider among the current crop of contenders. He has always possessed the strength in the climbs, but since his 2014 Tour de France abandonment on the cobbles of stage 5, we have seen Froome transform into a truly versatile bicycle racer. 

Froome has since used everything from descents to crosswinds to gain an advantage over his rivals. Froome indeed has every skill set necessary to be the outright favorite for this edition of the Giro d’Italia. 

The greatest threat to his bid for the title is the open investigation into his Salbutamol case, and what effect that may have on his mental state throughout the three-week tour.


3. Thibaut Pinot

Pinot is one of the best climbers in the peloton. Although Pinot has never won a grand tour, he is frequently right there amongst the favorites. The Frenchman has ridden a stellar Tour of the Alps and looks to be on top form going into the Giro d’Italia. The Frenchman, however, is a notoriously poor descender and will have to do everything in his power to remain in contact with his rivals on the Giro’s many treacherous descents.


4. Fabio Aru


Aru is Italy’s best hope for a homegrown winner at this year’s Giro. The animated Italian climber was second overall at the 2015 Giro d’Italia but has been routinely foiled by the strength of Chris Froome in recent grand tours. 

Aru is certainly in with a good shot at victory on his home roads. Win or lose, you can count on watching the Sardinian launch countless attacks throughout the three weeks of racing.


5. Louis Meintjes

The 26-year-old South African has long been the young climber tacked onto the back of older and more experienced grand tour riders. With top-10 finishes in the Tour de France and Vuelta Espana, Meintjes is full of potential to become a grand tour great. 

However, we have yet to see him take the step from contender to podium finisher. Will his debut Giro d’Italia be the race to launch his career to the next level?


6. Miguel Angel Lopez

The Colombian contender from Astana is one of many cards that the Kazakh team has to play at this year’s Giro d’Italia. One can hardly forget the performance that Astana put on in the 2015 Giro, which saw them win five stages, finish second and third overall, and routinely stack breakaways in the second half of the tour. 

Astana has shown similar signs of strength this year throughout the Tour of the Alps and even during the classics season. Between Pello Bilbao, Luis Leon Sanchez, and Miguel Angel Lopez, Astana has a very strong team with multiple threats to the overall title.


7. Robert Gesink

The veteran Dutch rider returns to the Giro for the first time since 2013. Gesink has not had a top grand tour result since finishing sixth overall in the 2015 Tour de France, but his experience and strength in the mountains will allow him to infiltrate any select group of contenders as the race heats up.


8. George Bennett

Bennett has been one of the strongest GC riders on LottoNL-Jumbo for some time, but he was most often seen using his abilities to serve his more experienced teammates. However, 2017 was a breakout year for the young Kiwi who won the Amgen Tour of California, then found himself in the top 10 of the Tour de France before tragically abandoning the race due to illness. If his team gives him free reign at the Giro, don’t be surprised to see him fighting it out among the best.


9. Simon Yates

The 25-year-old British rider has never raced the Giro d’Italia, but he will line up following an exceptional spring campaign. Yates appeared to be on the best climbing form of his short career in Paris-Nice. If he has managed to build on his early season success, he may take a surprise result in Italy.


10. Rohan Dennis

Dennis is best known for his prowess in individual time trials. However, he has openly shared his desire to become a GC contender. With the support of his BMC racing team behind him, can the 2018 Giro d’Italia be the turning point in Dennis’ career? The Australian time trial champion is undefeated in the discipline in 2018. The opening time trial in Jerusalem could catapult Dennis into an early lead.