03 May 2013

Riders at the 2013 Giro d'Italia

GIRO - Pro Tour

Riders in the 2013 Giro d'Italia

The Giro d'Italia begins tomorrow. Twenty-three teams of 9 riders each will roll across the hills and plains, and over the mountains of Italy for the next three weeks. The Giro is pageantry and competition at its best.

See the full preliminary roster of 207 riders from 23 teams of the Giro at VeloNews.com: Giro roster 2013 or at Steephill.TV.

Any rider who will be competing in the 2013 Giro d'Italia will obviously not be racing at the Amgen Tour of California, where I will be, enjoying the other riders on this list: Riders at the 2013 Amgen Tour of California

Some of the key riders competing in the 2013 Giro d'Italia which begins tommorow include:

SKY: Bradley Wiggins, Christian Knees, Danny Pate, Uran
Cannondale: Damiano Caruso, Elia Viviani (Ivan Basso pulled out this week due to a cyst)
BMC: Cadel Evans, Taylor Phinney, Marco Pinotti
Garmin-Sharp: Ryder Hesjedal, Peter Stetina, Thomas Dekker, David Millar, Christian Vande Velde, Tom Danielson
Omega-Pharma Quickstep: Mark Cavendish, Pauwels
Orica-GreenEdge: Matt Goss, Luke Durbridge, Michael Matthews, Weening
RadioShack Leopard Trek: George Bennett, Yaroslav Popovych, Jesse Sergent
Saxo-Tinkoff: Majka, Boaro, Daniel Bennati, Matti Breschel, Karsten Kroon, and Rory Sutherland
Astana: Vincenzo Nibali
Blanco: Robert Gesink, Paul Martens, Wilco Kelderman, Maarten Tjallingii, Jack Bobridge
Argos Shimano: Thomas Damuseau, Koen de Kort, John Degenkolb, Patrick Gretsch

Looking back at the podium - 2012 General Classification winners of the Giro d'Italia
Final General Classification last year
  1. HESJEDAL, Ryder (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) 91:39:02
  2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin (KATUSHA) + 0:16
  3. DE GENDT, Thomas (VACANSOLEIL-DCM) + 1:39
* Thomas De Gendt will not be returning in 2013, he will be at the Tour of California.

2013 Pedal Dancer top bets for overall win at Giro d'Italia
  1. Bradley Wiggins 
  2. Robert Gesink
  3. Vincenzo Nibali  
More information: 21 Stages, Previous winners, Top-10 GC ranking of riders at GIRO:
See the statistics page by ProCycling Stats - 2013 96th Giro d'Italia (WT) 

I can't wait for three glorious weeks of watching early morning bike racing across the hills, along the coastline, and over the mountains of Italy. May is here!

Riders to watch for at the Giro d'Italia

Recognizing your favorite rider is a big part of the fun of being a fan the races..... learn these faces.  All photos ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®  click any image to enlarge

Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins at 2012 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Robert Gesink
Robert Gesink at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali at the 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Cadel Evans
Cadel Evans at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Rory Sutherland
Rory Sutherland has hit the big time and will lead the Saxo-Bank Tinkoff squad to the Giro in 2013  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Yaroslav Popovych
Yaroslav Popovych at 2012 Tour de France   ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Taylor Phinney
Taylor Phinney at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Peter Stetina
Peter Stetina at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Christian Vande Velde
Christian VandeVelde at the USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Tom Danielson
Tom Danielson at 2012 USA Pro Challenge  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Wilco Kelderman
Wilco Kelderman at 2012 Tour of California  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Koen de Kort
Koen de Kort at 2-12 Tour de France  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®
Jerome Pineau
Jerome Pineau at 2012 Tour de France   ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®

Maarten Tjallingii
Maarten Tjallingii telling a story to my sister-in-law Suz at the 2012 Tour of California  ©By Mike at Pedal Dancer®
This year the Columbia team will not be at the Tour of California, they will be at the Giro d'Italia! Good Luck to them.
Team Columbia is going to the Giro, meanwhile Frankie Andreu will be back at the Tour of California, but as a Team Director for 5-hour Energy Powered by Kenda Racing Team.  ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer®