The last major stage races he played were the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Tour de France.
Results: a first and a second place.
References that make the 34-year-old Geraint Thomas the very favorite of the Giro d'Italia departing on Saturday from Sicily.
SNAI analysts combine it with a very low level, 2.50, strengthened in their evaluations by the three time trials scattered on the pink race track, perfect for the Welshman of the Ineos Grenadiers.
The first stage, from Monreale to Palermo, is precisely a 15-kilometer time trial, at the end of which Thomas could already find himself in the squad.
Who will be his most formidable rivals?
SNAI is still betting on Vincenzo Nibali (Trek-Segafredo), who after a dark season showed the first definite signs of improvement last Sunday, at the Imola World Championships.
The third triumph of the Shark, after the victories of 2013 and 2016, is given at 5.50.
On the same level is another Briton, Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), who shows up with the business card of the Tirreno-Adriatico won two weeks ago.
Continuing to scroll through the list, you will find the names of the Dane from Astana Jakob Fuglsang (1 / o in Lombardia and 5 / o at the World Cup, but never on the podium of a great stage race), at 6.50, and Dutch Steven Kruijswijk (who will have the support of a squadron like Jumbo-Visma), at 7.50.
This year's revelation could be the Russian talent Aleksandr Vlasov, who sets out to support Fuglsang on the big climbs, but in reality it will be a valid alternative in case of the Dane's defaillance.
It is no coincidence that SNAI analysts give him the sixth favorite, at 15.
Apart from Nibali, at the moment blue cycling does not have many men from great stage races.
The veteran Caruso, tenth in the Tour de France, will not be at the start, otherwise the hopes are slim to say the least.
Ciccone, lieutenant of Nibali and a veteran of Covid, is at 50, Masnada (Deceuninck-Quick Step, good his World Cup) is playing at 100.