Fantamanager, now you can't go wrong anymore. Line up your team for the Giro d'Italia in the championship, in the Fantacycling League and in the Discovery League (which also includes the Tour de France) and play to win the prizes up for grabs for the occasion.

The route - 21 stages and 3,345.6 kilometers with 47,433 meters of altitude difference. Two time trials for a total of 70 km and six uphill finishes: Oropa and Prati di Tivo in the first week, Cusano Mutri (Bocca della Selva) and Livigno (Mottolino) in the second week, Santa Cristina Valgardena and Passo Brocon in the last week. Six, on paper, are the sprints but pay attention to the escapes from afar. Among the most insidious stages are the first starting from Venaria Reale and arriving in Turin with Superga, Colle della Maddalena and the San Vito climb a few km from the finish, the sixth with just over 10 km of dirt road and arriving in Rapolano Terme, the 12th with the walls around Fano, the 16th with an early arrival at high altitude from the Stelvio (Cima Coppi) as long as the snow does not cause damage, the arrival in Sappada in the 19th stage with two very tough km less than 10 km away from the end, and the 20th stage with the double climb to Monte Grappa before reaching Bassano. Closing in Rome on May 26th.

The protagonists - We have not written the word 'favourites' because, in reality, there is only one: Tadej Pogacar is expected on a triumphal catwalk but the Slovenian, chasing the Giro-Tour double, will have to manage his forces well and avoid the dangers of the road. The fight is open for the podium. Ineos fields Geraint Thomas, second last year, and Thymen Arensman expected for a test of maturity. With the presence of Filippo Ganna, Tobias Foss and Magnus Sheffield, three big names for time trials, it seems to be the best equipped team.

For a good result we mention the loose cannons Daniel Martinez of Bora (also pay attention to his teammate Florian Lipowitz, surprise from Romandie), Alexey Lutsenko of Astana, Ben O'Connor of Ag2R (with the Paret Peintre brothers in support) , Michael Woods of Israel, Juan Pedro Lopez of Lidl Trek, Nairo Quintana of Movistar (although he has declared that he will not rank), Romain Bardet of Dsm, Eddie Dunbar of Jayco AlUla, Cian Uijtdebroeks of Visma, Michael Storer of Tudor and the Bahrain duo composed of Damiano Caruso and Antonio Tiberi. If you then find a revelation like Andreas Leknessund of 2023 you will have hit the mark.

There is a good presence of sprinters who will also fight for the points jersey, Pogacar permitting: there are Kaden Groves of Alpecin, Laurence Pithie of Groupama, Biniam Girmay of Intermarché, Jonathan Milan and Simone Consonni of Lidl Trek, Fernando Gaviria of Movistar, Tim Merlier of Soudal Quick Step, Fabio Jakobsen and Tobias Lund Andresen of DSM, Caleb Ewan of Jayco AlUla, Olav Kooij of Visma, Alberto Dainese of Tudor, Juan Sebastian Molano of Uae Emirates and Phil Bauhaus of Bahrain. Many big names who chose to race the Tour de France are missing. However, two Frenchmen worth mentioning are Christophe Laporte and Julian Alaphilippe who will help their teammates and go looking for stages.

The Italians - The presence is there, we expect stage victories and notable placings from many young people who want to show off in the pink race and from expert riders who feel the smell of home on the roads of the Giro. Two names above all in addition to those already mentioned: Davide Piganzoli of Polti Kometa and Giulio Pellizzari of Bardiani Csf Faizanè. Guys, Fantacycling is at your side.

Happy Tour everyone!!

Photo Sprint Cycling