Giro 2019 Favourites stage 1: Dumoulin-Roglic clash in trying ITT

The opener of the Giro d'Italia is played out on a challenging route for time triallists with climbing legs. Having already won two pink jerseys in a first day time trial, Tom Dumoulin is a likely candidate. But so is Primoz Roglic. (Slideshow route/profile)

The Giro begins with an individual time trial of 8 kilometres. The course in Bologna should provoke greater time gaps than a traditional city centre prologue as the finale is a trying climb to Santuario della Madonna di San Luca. The ascent is 2.1 kilometres and the average slope sits at 9.7%, while the steepests ramps are 16%.

Of course, Tom Dumoulin is expected to shine, but Primoz Roglic will look to lay down a marker, too. Victor Campenaerts, who recently set a new one-hour record to surpass Bradley Wiggins, and Ion Izagirre are also among those with a firm chance of claiming the first maglia rosa of the 2019 Giro d’Italia.

Speaking of Roglic, this edition he will strive after a Giro record. Three years ago, the pink jersey eluded him in the opening time trial in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, when Dumoulin bested him with 0.02 seconds. Payback time? The Slovenian is on fire this season and winning his first Grand Tour is a major goal.

Dumoulin and time trials on the first day of action of the Corsa Rosa seem to be a winning combination. Last year, the Dutchman powered to the pink jersey on a course in Jerusalem which was similar to the Bologna ITT, besting Rohan Dennis and Victor Campenaerts with 2 seconds. The Australian World Champion does not participate in this Giro.

Favourites 1st stage 2019 Giro d’Italia
*** Tom Dumoulin, Primoz Roglic
** Ion Izagirre, Victor Campenaerts
* Bob Jungels, Sam Oomen, Ilnur Zakarin

Check out the start times and route of stage 1.