Giro d’Italia 2018: Favorites for maglia rosa in the general classification

Tom Dumoulin is back to defend the maglia rosa and he isn’t even the favorite for the general classification. These five could win the Giro d’Italia in 2018.

In 2017, Tom Dumoulin became the first Dutchman to win the Giro d’Italia. He returns in 2018 with dreams of retaining the maglia rosa in the hunt for the general classification. But Dumoulin is hardly the only rider with a shot at snatching the title in Rome at the end of the three-week race.

First, however, let’s address the competition he won’t face.

Movistar sent a junior team this season to the Giro d’Italia. Instead of breaking up their trio of top riders to push for victory in two Grand Tours, the Spanish squad opted to send 2017 Giro runner-up Nairo Quintana to the Tour de France. Also opting out of the Giro were Alejandro Valverde and Mikel Landa. So at least Dumoulin won’t have to deal with that challenge in his title defense.

Gone as well is Vincenzo Nibali, the third-place finisher from 2017. Nibali focused on the spring classics instead of racing the Giro d’Italia this year.

Even with both of the other podium finishers from last year gone, though, the defending champion still isn’t the favorite this year. He rates among the five favorites, but he will be challenged for a podium spot. Let’s find out as we look at the five biggest contenders for the maglia rosa at the 2018 Giro d’Italia.

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Bahrain-Merida)

Any number of riders could have gone into this spot. But, given the dearth of top-five riders from 2017, this top-six rider from last year’s race will definitely be in the thick of things. Thus Domenico Pozzovivo kicks off this list.

Pozzovivo finished as the king of the mountains at this year’s Tour of the Alps, a distinction that could pay major dividends on this year’s race route. The Italian veteran will be gunning for his second top-five finish in the past five years after finishing fifth in 2014.

Related Story: What every jersey color means at the Giro d'Italia

The route certainly provides major access for the type of climbing focus that Pozzovivo brings to the table. But the color Pozzovivo will likely fight for more is not pink but rather blue.

4. Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates)

Fabio Aru is the other Italian providing hope for domestic fans, since Nibali is not appearing in this year’s race. Sixth overall in the Tour of the Alps this year, Aru has not finished in the top 10 at any other race this year.

After an impressive 2017 season, Aru is on weaker form. The Italian has yet to reach the podium at a single race this year, and so this could go one of two directions. Either:

1. Aru is going to ride himself into form with the longer stage race and contend for the title, or
2. Aru is going to remain on weak form and fail to reach the podium

He could ostensibly challenge for one of those podium spots. Past performance doesn’t dictate the future success or failure of any athlete, after all.

3. Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb)

We’ve already spoken some about the advantages working in the defending champion’s favor. The other two podium finishers stayed away this year. Gone as well is fifth-place finisher Ilnur Zakarin, further narrowing the pool of contenders in the stage race.

Dumoulin isn’t necessarily the top favorite, given the layout of this year’s race and when the time trials come into play. But he is still likely to finish on one of the other two steps of the podium, and a repeat is hardly unprecedented.

What Dumoulin has in his favor is his prowess as a time-trial specialist. The Dutchman currently sports the rainbow jersey of the world champion. But with three mountain finishes coming after the final time trial, a spot atop the podium in pink will be hard to secure. Look instead for Dumoulin to finish second or (more likely) third.

2. Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ)

The rider entering the Giro in the hottest form has to be Thibaut Pinot. The French rider claimed the Tour of the Alps this year over a field containing most of the Giro favorites. Though it was just a five-day stage race, the victory over Froome, Aru, and Pozzovivo is promising for his chances of landing on the Giro d’Italia podium in his second try at the race.

Last year, Pinot finished fourth in Italy in his first time ever racing the Giro d’Italia. It was a solid inaugural effort. The Frenchman was ultimately 37 seconds shy of the podium.

The more mountainous Giro route in 2018 could play right into Pinot’s hands. The rider won Stage 20 at last year’s race, and he could once again challenge for the top spot in the standings. Though he is not quite the time trialist of other top contenders, Pinot could make up major time in the mountains if he chooses to press his chances.

1. Chris Froome (Team Sky)

All eyes will be on Chris Froome, who is the defending champion at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. If he wins in Italy this year, Froome would become the first rider in history to hold the title in all three grand tours at the same time.

Of course, he is fighting an adverse analytical finding (i.e. failed drug test) for salbutamol at the 2017 Vuelta. Salbutamol is an asthma medication, and even with a therapeutic use exemption the amount of the pharmaceutical in his system after Stage 18 seemingly exceeded the upper limit.

Next: Giro d'Italia 2018: Everything you need to know about the route

While his case is under review by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Froome is allowed to continue riding. In a race already featuring one historic first, Froome could make history in a big way at the Giro d’Italia — if he is allowed to keep the Vuelta title.