Four Canadians slated to start Giro d’Italia

Rob Sturney April 21, 2016

With 15-days to go until the first stage of the Giro d’Italia in Alpendoorn, The Netherlands, the provisional start list has been released, with four Canadians slated to roll May 6’s short opening time trial. Joining the 2012 winner Ryder Hesjedal will be Michael Woods, Svein Tuft and Hugo Houle.

4 Canucks on the @giroditalia provisional start list! Tuft,Houle,Woods. Record? @CDNCyclingMag #canadiancycling

— Ryder Hesjedal (@ryder_hesjedal) April 21, 2016

Hesjedal will be contesting his first Grand Tour for Trek-Segafredo and 17th overall. Since his 2012 victory, he has placed fifth and ninth in the Giro. Trek’s Fabian Cancellara will line up for his last Italian Grand Tour.

Michael “Rusty” Woods will experience his first Grand Tour and just might end up being Cannondale’s co-leader along with Colombian Rigoberto Uran. Woods came fifth in his first WorldTour stage race, the Tour Down Under, and recently took 12th in La Flèche Wallonne, earning the Mur de Huy KOM in the process.

One of Svein Tuft’s career highlights is wearing the pink jersey for a day in 2014 after his Orica-GreenEdge team triumphed in the opening team time trial. It will be Tuft’s ninth Grand Tour. Not only does Orica have a podium contender in Johan Chaves (Colombia), but it also has a sprint threat in Caleb Ewen (Australia).

Hugo Houle of AG2R faces his second Giro in two years. He was 113th last season. Houle’s team leader will be Italian Domenico Pozzovivo, who suffered a frighting crash in the third stage of last year’s edition.

The provisional start list contained title contenders like Uran, Chaves, Pozzovivo, Tom Dumoulin (The Netherland/Giant-Alpecin), Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana), Mikel Landa (Spain/Sky), Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar), Ilnur Zakarin (Russia/Katusha) and Rafal Majka (Poland/Tinkoff).