Following the great cobblestone Classics of the north, the focus of international cycling turns once again to Italy for the Giro d’Abruzzo 2024. The 4-day stage race has been brought back to the international calendar for the first time since 2007. The race features a fairly demanding route and will represent an important test for many riders also in terms of approaching the Giro d’Italia.
The Prati di Tivo climb is destined to define the general classification of the Abruzzo race, which is likely to be conquered by a rider with outstanding climbing skills. One name stands out above all others, that of Adam Yates. The Briton is back from the disappointment of the UAE Tour, which he had to leave prematurely due to a crash. The art twin was in good shape after winning the Tour of Oma and was among the favourites to win one of the most important races of the season for his team. Unfortunately, bad luck forced him out. The Briton has qualities that are difficult to find in this field of starters, but, as mentioned, he starts with the unknown of his current form.
Yates will count on a really strong team featuring Pavel Sivakov, Diego Ulissi and the young talent Jan Christen, winner last year of a stage at the Giro Next Gen, all potentially capable of a Top 10 finish. The most creditable rival seems to be Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan), who at this time last year won the Giro di Sicilia and was a major player at the Amstel Gold Race. The Kazakh rider will be supported by Santiago Umba, who should adapt well to the slopes of Prati di Tivo.
George Bennett and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-PremierTech) should also be able to enter the fight for the podium, as should Yannis Voisard and Hannes Wilksch (Tudor), Jonathan Caicedo (Petrolike) and Paul Double (Team Polti-Kometa). Among the Italians, let’s watch out for the evergreen Domenico Pozzovivo and the young new-comers Alessio Martinelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Valerio Conti (Corratec-Vini Fantini), Giovanni Carboni (JCL Team Ukyo), Davide De Cassan (Team Polti-Kometa) and Sergio Meris (MBH Bank Colpack Ballan Csb).
The sprinters could compete for the first Maglia Azzurra of the rece, as the opening stage finishing in Pescara should result in a bunch sprint. Among the big favourites for the day are Niccolò Bonifazio (Corratec-Vini Fantini), Max Kanter (Astana Qazaqstan), Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team Ukyo), Enrico Zanoncello and Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè), Itamar Einhorn (Israel-PremierTech), Davide Persico (Bingoal WB), Daniel Skerl (CTF) and David Martin (Team Polti-Kometa).
Finally, for mixed stages, riders such as Derek Gee (Israel-PremierTech), Marco Brenner (Tudor), who won a stage at the Settimana Coppi&Bartali with a finisseur action, Marco Tizza and Giacomo Villa (Bingoal WB), Florian Samuel Kajamini (MBH Bank Colpack Ballan Csb), Filippo D’Aiuto (General Store) and Tommaso Dati (Biesse-Carrera) should be kept on the list.