Tao Geoghegan Hart’s performance and victory at the Tour of the Alps have earned him Giro d’Italia contender status and Ineos Grenadiers management are convinced the Londoner’s ambitions and those of designated leader Geraint Thomas can combine to help the squad take on Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) in Italy next month.
“I’m happy to have these kinds of problems,” Ineos directeur sportif Matteo Tosatto told Cyclingnews.
“Nothing changes for the team. It’s good we’ve got Tao on form.”
“We knew he was going well after his good winter and good spring results. In contrast Geraint had some illness during his build-up but he’s getting better day after day.”
“Everyone is talking about Remco and Rogic but we think that we’ll be in the thick of the action at the Giro. With the team we’ve got, we know that we can get a great result.”
Tosatto was in charge of Ineos Grenadiers as they dominated the Tour of the Alps and will be lead directeur sportif at the Giro d’Italia. He has already done plenty of pre-race preparation and route reconnaissance and will visit the final stages of the Corsa Rosa in the next few days.
Tosatto will perhaps decide his final eight riders and a reserve for the Giro d’Italia as he drives through the Dolomites and across to Friuli to study the final mountain time trial to Monte Lussari.
Elia Viviani has announced he will not be in the squad as it focuses on overall success rather than stage victories. The line-up is expected to be all or most of the seven riders who won the Tour of the Alps, plus Filippo Ganna and perhaps Luke Rowe.
“I have a big decision to make, but in my head the team is super clear,” Tosatto said. “Now we just all need to improve even more so that we’re all ready for the Giro.”
Thomas and Geoghegan Hart will surely have protected status with Pavel Sivakov and Thymen Arensman key support and possible alternatives, while Salvatore Puccio, Ben Swift and Laurens De Plus could provide vital muscle and support.
Tosatto believes in the team philosophy of legendary Italian soccer coach Arrigo Sacchi that a united team will always be stronger than a talented but isolated individual. He hopes Ineos Grenadiers’ combined strengths can somehow defeat Evenepoel and Roglic.
“The strength of our team will be our extra advantage. Our guys are mature, ready and hungry. They’re also honest with me and each other, right to the end of the…
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