‘It won’t be a big surprise’ – Julian Alaphilippe senses chance of first pink jersey at Giro d’Italia

Julian Alaphilippe went to assess the lay of the land on Thursday afternoon. From the passenger seat of a Soudal-QuickStep team car, he performed his recon of stage 1 of the Giro d’Italia, a winding journey that took him through the Colline del Po, the hills to the southeast of Turin’s city centre.

The Frenchman would have learned relatively little about Superga and the Colle Maddalena that couldn’t already have been gleaned from the Garibaldi, the Giro’s lovingly detailed roadbook. Of greater use, however, was the drive up the late, unclassified climb to San Vito.