Giro: 45 Italians at the start, the first of Van der Poel

There are two days left until the start of the Giro d'Italia number 105. It starts on Friday from Budapest and after three stages in Hungary, the race will cross Italy until the arrival set in Verona on Sunday 29 May.

Great expectations for fans, but also for the protagonists.

Eyes on Richard Carapaz: in 2019 the Ecuadorian conquered the pink race in Verona, where the epilogue is expected again this year, but with the Spanish Movistar shirt.

Now that he is part of the Ineos Grenadiers squadron his chances of getting on the top step of the podium increase.

All the more so as he will have the support of highly competitive teammates and another three years of experience behind him, including third place in the Tour won and Olympic road gold in Tokyo.

The winner of the Tour of Flanders, Mathieu Van der Poel, is making his debut in the Italian stage race, and does not hide his ambitions: "I want to finish the Giro and the Tour de France this year", explained the Dutchman who he had left the Tour in July after six days in yellow to prepare for the Olympic Games.

The winner of the last Tour of Flanders, who at 27 has never completed a three-week race, admitted that "the third week will be a question mark".

"It's one of the reasons why I really want to finish the race - he added - They say you become a stronger cyclist after a Grand Tour, it's one of my goals."

The other will be to wear the pink leader's jersey after wearing yellow at the Tour de France: "I'll try,

45 Italian riders will be at the start of the 105 / o Giro d'Italia cycling, ready to start on Friday from Budapest.

The number was made official a little while ago, after the presentation of the final 'starting list' of the pink race.

The team with the highest number of home athletes is Bardiani Csf Faizané, who will field 8: Luca COVILI, Filippo FIORELLI, Davide GABBURO, Sacha MODOLO, Luca RASTELLI, Alessandro TONELLI, Filipoo ZANA, Samuele ZOCCARATO.

In second place the Eolo Cometa, with 7: Vincenzo ALBANESE, Davide BAIS, Lorenzo FORTUNATO, Mirco MAESTRI, Samuele RIVI, Diego ROSA, Francesco GAVAZZI.

The Drone Hopper Androni Toys follows, with 4: Mattia BAIS, Simone RAVANELLI, Filippo TAGLIANI, Edoardo ZARDINI.

Astana Qazaqstan will have 3: Valerio CONTI, Fabio FELLINE, Vincenzo NIBALI.

Cofidis will also present 3 competitors at the start: Davide CIMOLAI, Simone CONSONNI, Davide VILLELLA.

Same goes for Trek: (Dario CATALDO, Giulio CICCONE, Jacopo MOSCA.

UAE Emirates will have Alessandro COVI, Davide FORMOLO, Diego ULISSI.

Alpecin Fenix ​​will start with 2: Jakub MARECZKO, Stefano OLDANI.

Intermarché Wanty Gobert idem: Domenico POZZOVIVO, Lorenzo ROTA

Two other riders for Israel PremierTech: Giacomo NIZZOLO, Alessandro DE MARCHI.

One rider each will have the Ag2r Citroen (Andrea VENDRAME), the Bora Hansgrohe (Giovanni ALEOTTI), the Groupama Fdj (Jacopo GUARNIERI), the Ineos Grenadiers (Salvatore PUCCIO), the Jumbo Visma (Edoardo AFFINI), the Quick Step Alpha Vynil (Davide BALLERINI), Team BikeExchange Jayco (Matteo SOBRERO) and Team Dsm (Alberto DAINESE).