Wout Van Aert makes Giro d'Italia debut with pink jersey ambitions
Cycling enters the second half of the season on Friday with the 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia. Belgian hopes are pinned on Wout Van Aert, who is making his Giro debut and dreams of wearing the pink jersey.
Like the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and the red jersey in the Vuelta d'España, the pink jersey in the Giro is reserved for the best rider in the general classification. Van Aert has worn both the French and Spanish versions in his career, and will be looking to complete his collection at this year's edition of the Italian grand tour.
His best chance will come in the opening stages of the Giro, which starts in Tirana. From the Albanian capital, the peloton will take on a series of hilly stages that seem tailor-made for the Belgian. And with the absence of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, the competition is not as strong as in the spring classics.
Viral infection
However, Van Aert's decision to take part was only made on Monday, when he decided to travel to Albania. He is still suffering from the effects of a viral infection and says he is unsure of his current form.
"I'm still coughing. I feel fit, but I'm also starting with doubts," Van Aert told Het Nieuwsblad on Thursday. "In the end, I'm happy to be here, but I'm still nervous about starting."
Even if Van Aert is not fit enough to secure the pink jersey this week, he is aware that he will still have plenty of opportunities to secure his first Giro stage win. "At worst I won't be able to keep up in the first few days, but the Giro lasts three weeks. I can improve a lot in that time."
Battle between generations
Whatever Van Aert's form, the Italian mountains are too steep for him to win the entire Giro d'Italia. That battle will most likely be fought between 35-year-old Primoz Roglic, who has won the Giro once and the Vuelta four times, and up-and-coming talent Juan Ayuso, who is seeking his first grand tour victory at the age of 22.
The Giro d'Italia starts on Friday. After three stages in Albania, the peloton crosses into Italy on Monday and finishes in Rome on 1 June.
© PHOTO LUCA BETTINI / AFP
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