Tour of the Alps 2021: Favourites
The Tour of the Alps is a dream come true for pure bred climbers, although only one stage finishes uphill. Who are the major contenders to win the 2021 edition?
[Underneath article was written before the start of the Tour of the Alps and has not been updated]
The Tour of the Alps is a rare exception to the unspoken rule that stage races should feature at least one time trial. Which makes the race pre-eminently a chance for pure bred climbers.
Arguably, the 2nd stage offers one of the best opportunities to distance your rivals. It’s not the stage with the most vertical metres – 2,640 -, but since virtually all climbing is packed together inside the last 55 kilometres it’s likely to have an impact. First a 7 kilometres climb at 8.2% and after a section in the valley the same climb, Piller Sattel, on another side. This way, the ascent is 6.6 kilometres long and averages more than 10%. The downhill leads onto the 14 kilometres finish climb, which goes up at shallow gradients.
Stage 2 serves the only ‘uphill finish’ on the Tour of the Alps. Attacking on the steeper sections of the penultimate climb and staying ahead in the finale could be a winning strategy.
Another likely GC clash arrives on stage 4. This race adds up to 168.6 kilometres and includes an elevation gain of almost 3,900 metres. After the last climb – 10 kilometres at 6.8% – the finale is a technical drop to the line of 8 kilometres.
Still active former winners of the Tour of the Alps – and its antecedent the Giro del Trentino – are Vincenzo Nibali (2008, 2013), Domenico Pozzovivo (2012), Richie Porte (2015), Mikel Landa (2016), Geraint Thomas (2017), Thibaut Pinot (2018), and Pavel Sivakov (2019).
None of the participants in 2021 did win a race this season. Aleksandr Vlasov comes closest; the Russian finished second on Paris-Nice.
Favourites 2021 Tour of the Alps
*** Pavel Sivakov, Simon Yates, Aleksandr Vlasov
** Pello Bilbao, Hugh Carthy, Romain Bardet
* Jai Hindley, Daniel Felipe Martínez, Thibaut Pinot
Tour of the Alps Route
Tour of the Alps Riders
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Großschartner solos to triumph, Yates seals GC win - Tour of the Alps 20 Bilbao wins three-up spint, Yates cements lead - Tour of the Alps 20 Second triumph Moscon, Yates keeps GC lead - Tour of the Alps 20 Simon Yates solos to leader's jersey - Tour of the Alps 20 Route stage 1: Brixen – Innsbruck - Tour of the Alps 20 Route stage 2: Innsbruck – Feichten im Kaunertal - Tour of the Alps 20 Route stage 3: Imst – Naturns - Tour of the Alps 20 Route stage 4: Naturns – Pieve di Bono - Tour of the Alps 20 Route stage 5: Idroland – Riva del Garda - Tour of the Alps 20 Moscon takes race lead with late attack - Tour of the Alps 20 More articles Giro 2022: Hirt wins race over the Mortirolo, Carapaz keeps pink
Giro 2022 Route stage 16: Salò - Aprica
Giro 2022 Route stage 17: Ponte di Legno - Lavarone
Giro 2022 Favourites stage 17: Climbers eyeing pink
Giro 2022: Withdrawals
Giro 2022: The Route
Giro 2022: Riders
Giro 2022 Route stage 18: Borgo Valsugana - Treviso
Giro 2022 Favourites stage 18: For fast men #5
Giro 2022 Route stage 19: Marano Lagunare - Castelmonte
Giro 2022 Favourites stage 19: Steep ramps to suit the breakaway
Giro 2022 Route stage 20: Belluno - Passo Fedaia
Giro 2022 Favourites stage 20: Final GC clash in high mountains
Giro 2022 Route stage 21: Verona ITT
Giro 2022 Favourites stage 21: Into the arena
Cycling Calendar 2022
Giro 2022: Ciccone solos to victory, Carapaz still in pink
Critérium du Dauphiné 2022: The Route
Critérium du Dauphiné 2022: Riders
Critérium du Dauphiné 2022 Route stage 1: La Voulte-sur-Rhône - Beauchastel
Critérium du Dauphiné 2022 Route stage 2: Saint-Péray - Brives-Charensac
Critérium du Dauphiné 2022 Route stage 3: Saint-Paulien - Chastreix-Sancy
Tour de France 2022: The Route
Tour de France 2022: Riders
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 1: Copenhagen - Copenhagen
Tour de France 2022 Favourites stage 1: Ganna for first yellow jersey
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 5: Lille - Arenberg
Tour de France 2022 Route stage 12: Briançon - Alpe d'Huez
Vuelta 2022: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!