Giro d'Italia 2023

With the arrival of spring, the season of major cycling events traditionally begins, and one of the highlights is undoubtedly the Giro d'Italia. The three-week tour through Italy is one of the most demanding and prestigious events on the cycling calendar, attracting the world's best riders every year. From the high Alpine passes to the sun-drenched beaches of the Adriatic, the Giro d'Italia offers a spectacular route through some of Italy's most beautiful landscapes.

Review

Remco Evenepoel, who, alongside Primoz Roglic, was one of the top favorites for the Italian tour, was able to take the Maglia Rosa right at the beginning of the 2023 Giro d'Italia. He wore it for the next two days, before relinquishing the lead for tactical reasons. Just when he could regain the lead with a victory in the eighth stage, the shocking news came: a positive COVID test! Race withdrawal!

But Primoz Roglic, whose Jumbo Visma team had to make several adjustments due to multiple COVID cases in the run-up, also had a tough time. He crashed in the eleventh stage and had to concede defeat to the two rivals, Geraint Thomas and Joao Almeida, in the 16th stage on Monte Bondone.

Ultimately, he was able to position himself very well for the overall victory in the time trial in the penultimate stage and secure the overall win and the coveted Pink Jersey in Rome at the final stage. We at BOBSHOP congratulate him warmly on his victory!

And here was our preview:

Stage Overview

The route of the 2023 Giro d'Italia is particularly challenging, taking the 176 riders through various regions of Italy. The tour covers a distance of 3489.2 kilometers and includes over 51,400 meters of altitude. An average stage is 166.2 kilometers long.

However, the stage locations and lengths were not only carefully selected for the landscapes but also to provide participants with both physical and mental challenges. The mix of flat stages, demanding mountain stages, and changing routes will demand everything from the riders, not only physically but especially in terms of teamwork and tactics, to come out on top in the end.

An additional challenge is the unpredictable spring weather, with sudden rain showers, strong winds, and cool temperatures. The riders must prepare for all conditions and be able to react quickly to spontaneous weather changes.

The last week of the tour includes the most altitude meters. There is no clear king's stage, as many sections of the route are difficult. However, the 19th stage includes the climb to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo - with 5,500 meters of altitude, it is quite possible that a decision about the wearer of the Pink Jersey will be made here.

Unlike usual, this year's tour does not end in Milan: the finale, the 21st stage, is a flat stage with the start and finish in Rome. This is similar to the Tour de France's Tour d'Honneur, the classic final stage of the Tour de France, and passes many historical sights.

Favorites

The focus is on the expected top duel between Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickstepPrimož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma

The duel is not just a continuation of the 2022 Vuelta, in which Roglič dominated until he had to withdraw from the race due to a fall - Evenepoel eventually won the race.

Both of them also have a personal score to settle with the Giro. Roglič dominated the first two weeks in 2019, but his team made a questionable tactical decision and let Richard Carapaz get away. Evenepoel, on the other hand, learned during the 2021 Giro that, after an eight-month break following a pelvic injury, he was not yet ready to compete for the Pink Jersey.

However, it would be a mistake to focus only on the two of them. Alexander Vlasov leads Bora-hansgrohe in the title defense - Jay Hindley, the wearer of the Pink Jersey in 2022, chose not to participate in the Giro to focus on the Tour de France. Also in the mix is the fan favorite Leonard Kämna. The German team is our dark horse for the title defense, not only because of the convincing roster but also because of Vlasov's strength. He speaks fluent Italian and knows the country and its cycling routes like the back of his hand.

Portuguese rider Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) will also have the opportunity to showcase his immense talent without being overshadowed by teammate Pogačar. He was unable to deliver a good performance last year, as a COVID infection forced him to withdraw prematurely. Accordingly, he is eager for a comeback this year.

Other favorites include former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ). However, it must be emphasized that the quality of the squads and individual stars in the 2023 Giro is extremely high. And if the experience in cycling shows one thing, it's that until the winner stands on the podium after the last stage, everything remains open!

Distinctive Jerseys and More

The primary goal of the Giro d'Italia is to wear the highly coveted Maglia Rosa, the pink jersey, which is worn by the leader of the general classification in the race. It's just as prestigious as the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and indicates who is currently the top rider among the participants. In 2022, Australia's Jai Hindley secured the overall classification in the "Giro d'Italia" while riding for the German cycling team Bora-hansgrohe.

Additionally, there's a points classification where sprinters have a good chance of winning the Maglia Ciclamino. The best climber in the Giro d'Italia is rewarded with the Maglia Azzurra, the blue jersey. Similar to the Tour de France, the white jersey, Maglia Bianca, is awarded to the best young rider under 25.

The Giro d'Italia Black Jersey is also well-known. Originally given to the poorest-performing rider to give them attention and a cash reward, it was discontinued after only a few years. However, wearers of this jersey achieved legendary status, whether it was Aldo Bini, who finished the race in 1948 with a broken wrist, or Luigi Malabrocca, who hid behind bars, barns, or hedges to deliberately become the last rider to wear the jersey and thus claim the cash prize. This gave the jersey a cult following, and it is still appreciated by fans to this day.

Furthermore, the official professional team equipment provider, Castelli, has developed stage jerseys for the various stages. They combine great functionality with Giro-inspired designs, resulting in beautiful jerseys such as the Short-Sleeve Roma Jersey, specially designed for the final stage. You can find all the distinctive and themed jerseys of the Giro d'Italia 2023 here.

What Can We Expect from This Year's Giro?

The Giro d'Italia 2023 promises to be an exciting race full of challenges and surprises. With breathtaking landscapes, demanding routes, and the world's best cyclists, the Corsa Rosa is set to be a spectacular cycling event.

We look forward to the 2023 edition of the Giro d'Italia, which will undoubtedly have its share of surprises. Who will wear the coveted pink jersey, and who will ultimately be crowned the race winner? We are curious and will closely follow the race.