Groupama FDJ
Much like Bora, Groupama FDJ’s leader for the Giro is looking to get back to his winning ways. In fact, both Arnaud Démare and Attila Valter will be looking to replicate their performances from 2020 and 2021, respectively. The 2020 Giro marked simultaneously the peak and the end of Démare as a world class sprinter. He was thoroughly outclassed in last year’s Vuelta. The Paris Tours victory late last year gave some hope for 2022 but, so far, this year has been disappointing as well. FDJ’s team is heavily geared towards the French sprinter, though. Valter will almost certainly be alone in the mountains where he will try to replicate or improve upon 14th in the general classification (GC) in 2021.
Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux
The Belgian team presents a versatile lineup that has the ability to fight for stage wins in every situation outside of a time trial. Domenico Pozzovivo, Jan Hirt, Rein Taaramae, and Lorenzo Rota have their chances in the mountains. Aime de Gendt and Loic Vliegen can win from a breakaway. And Biniam Girmay has his chances sprinting in small groups or maybe even bunch finishes from the second week on.
Outside of the Eritrean rider though, everyone is kind of a question mark. Pozzovivo is probably no longer able to fight for a top-10 overall (his last Grand Tour (GT) top-10 was in 2018). I don’t think anybody else really has a chance in the GC. Unless the team fights for the mountains’ jersey, stage wins are really the only thing the Belgian team is coming to the Giro for. And, as we know, it’s very dangerous to come to a GT with the sole goal of winning stages. If they manage one or two then it’s going to be a great Giro for them. If they get zero, they will almost assuredly be completely anonymous over the 3 weeks.
Israel Premier Tech
The Israeli team is entering their third year in the World Tour and their overall strategy (racing, transfer, team building, etc.) is still unknown. I’m not sure there is one other than burning money. They’re the best at that. They show up here hoping that Giacomo Nizzolo, Alessandro de Marchi and Alex Dowsett (all GT stage winners) can turn back the clock and win a stage. Nizzolo, after a lifetime trying, finally managed to win a stage at the Giro in 2021. In my opinion, it’s unlikely he’ll repeat it. Maybe he can fight for the points’ jersey, but he is far from the favorite to win it. De Marchi is a still a skilled climber and will be looking for his first Giro win. Stage wins are elusive though, so I don’t know how realistic this objective is.
Essentially, I see Israel as a less deep and less talented Intermarché. For a team that desperately needs points to remain in the World Tour in 2023, Israel isn’t doing themselves any favors.
Jumbo Visma
Jumbo Visma’s B team in support of Tom Dumoulin includes three young riders (Tobias Foss, Sam Oomen, and Koen Bouwman) that already finished 9th, 9th, and 12th in previous editions of the Giro. This says it all in terms of the strength of the Dutch team. In the end, it won’t be because of lack of support that Dumoulin won’t perform in the Giro. Ever since his magnificent 2017 season, when he won this very race, Dumoulin has never again reached that same level. But every year since he has managed some good results despite his setbacks. I’m sure he will produce some good results in 2022 as well. But I wouldn’t bet on him to win the Giro. Top-5 would be massive for him, in my opinion.
Lotto Soudal
Easy analysis. The Belgian team is what it has been for a few years: Caleb Ewan. He’s coming off of two stage wins in the Tour of Turkey and should win at least one in the Giro too. Harm Vanhoucke, Matthew Holmes and Thomas de Gendt are the team’s cards to play on breakaways and hilly stages.
Movistar
With Alejandro Valverde retiring at the end of the season, this is Movistar final chance to piss off their Latin American fans (if they still have some) by choosing a Spanish rider over a Colombian one final time. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. They’ll continue to have that opportunity in the future.
Anyway, I’m a big fan of Ivan Sosa despite the fact that his two GT participations so far have been… Well, let’s say, anonymous. I like the Colombian’s potential and think he’s much better suited for a GC challenge than the 43 years old Valverde. With that being said, I hope Valverde gets a stage win. I believe he is still too good not to make an impact in the Giro. But for GC I don’t have much faith in any of Movistar’s options.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team
Mark Cavendish leads a team geared towards working for him and maybe sneaking in some breakaway success. James Knox will try to get his GC hopes in GTs back on track. The rider I’m most curious to watch from Quick Step’s lineup is youngster Mauri Vansevenant. After his 2nd place on stage 10 of the 2021 Vuelta, I’m looking to see if the young Belgian will manage a stage win in the Giro.
Team BikeExchange
Simon Yates is the undisputed leader of this team and one of the favorites to the overall win in this Giro. As per usual, his team is not very strong. Lucas Hamilton, Lawson Craddock, and Damien Howson are his best domestiques in the mountains and it’s unlikely they’ll be of much help. Yates, a former Giro winner, is good enough to overcome this and fight for victory once again.
Team DSM
Romain Bardet departs as the team’s leader, and he is a good bet for the top-10. He just won the Tour of the Alps against decent competition, but 5 days are not 3 weeks. In my opinion, it is unlikely the Frenchman will fight for a podium finish, but a top-5 is not out of the question. The rider I’m most curious to follow though is Thymen Arensman. The young Dutchman has just placed 3rd in the same Tour of the Alps, and I think this might be his first chance to shine in a GT. Whether that will be at the service of himself or Bardet that’s to be seen but definitely keep an eye on him. Cees Bol and Alberto Dainese are decent options in the sprints even if both are unlikely to win while the sprinting field is still strong.
Trek – Segafredo
Giulio Ciccone hasn’t finished a GT since 2019. He’ll almost certainly be looking for stage wins and maybe a repeat of his mountains’ classification victory in 2019. Juan Pedro Lopez, 13th in last year’s Vuelta, is likely the team’s best hope for GC, while Mattias Jensen, 3rd in this year’s Tour de la Provence and 16th in the Vuelta a Catalunya, will get his first GT start.
UAE Team Emirates
Ineos brings Carapaz. Jumbo Visma brings Dumoulin. UAE brings João Almeida. Along with Carapaz and Yates, I believe these are the strongest riders in the field this year. Almeida will certainly have to cut down on his tactical mistakes if he is to have any hope of fighting for the pink jersey. Davide Formolo, Alessandro Covi and Rui Costa should provide adequate support to the Portuguese but the decision to bring both Fernando Gaviria and Max Richeze in detriment of another piece to help Almeida in the mountains is baffling.
Nothing new from UAE though. They’ve proven time and time again that they win because of how good their riders are, not because of any kind of tactical or managerial competence. This is not the Gaviria of 2017. Is it really worth to sacrifice one domestique in the mountains to maybe win a bunch sprint? The Giro is not the Tour of Oman.