May 5, 2006 – The Giro begins tomorrow and looks like it will be a battle royale of Grand Tour contenders. The Giro has become more popular in recent years for Tour de France favourites to use as prep and also as an opportunity to win one of the grand tours.

So as expected the 2006 is stacked with some of the best riders in the world. Discovery’s Paolo Savodelli looks poised to defend his crown after a fairly impressive Tour of Romandie – taking the prologue – and has one of the best teams in the world (minus Canada’s Michael Barry, who is still recovering from a crash at Flanders). Joining Savodelli will be other heavy hitters on the Discovery team such as Tom Danielson, Slava Ekimov and Pavel Padrnos.

Saunier Duval-Prodir’s Gilberto Simoni, Giro winner in both 2001 and 2003, will be one of the big challengers for the pink, along with his former teammate and heir apparent, Damiano Cunego (Lampre). Cunego took top honours in 2004, when he had Simoni as a teammate and super-domestique. Last year, Cunego’s season was foiled by a bout of mono, so look for some redemption from the climber extraordinaire.

With the retirement of Lance Armstrong, top 2006 Tour de France contender, Ivan Basso (CSC), is set to finally climb the podium in his native Italy. Although he was not in the top-three last year he did twin two stages after having one jours sans, due to illness. And watch out as well for Liquigas’ Danilo Di Luca who has had a thus far quiet spring – he has made the Giro his top priority.

Although there was talk of Canada’s Charles Dionne (Saunier Duval-Prodir) or Ryder Hesjedal (Phonak) riding the Giro, this will not be the case. With Barry’s injury the lone Canadian representative will be Polish-Canadian Peter Mazur, who will be riding alongside Simoni with the Saunier Duval-Prodir team.

2006 Giro d’Italia
– Stage 1 – Saturday May 6: Seraing, 6.2km
– Stage 2 – Sunday May 7: Mons/Charleroi-Marcinelle, 203km
– Stage 3 – Monday, May 8: Perwez-Namur, 202km
– Stage 4 – Tuesday, May 9: Wanze-Hotton, 182kmWednesday, 10 May: Rest Day
– Stage 5 – Thursday, May 11: Piacenza-Cremona Team Time Trial, 38km
– Stage 6 – Friday, May 12: Busseto-Forlì, 223km
– Stage 7 – Saturday, May 13: Cesena-Saltare, 230km
– Stage 8 – Sunday, May 14: Civitanova Marche-Maieletta (Passo Lanciano), 171km
– Stage 9 – Monday, May 15: Francavilla Al Mare-Termoli, 147km
– Stage 10 – Tuesday, May 16: Termoli-Peschici, 190km
Wednesday, 17 May: Transfer & Rest Day
– Stage 11 – Thursday, May 18: Pontedera ITT, 50km
– Stage 12 – Friday, May 19: Livorno-Sestri Levante, 165km
– Stage 13 – Saturday, May 20: Alessandria-La Thuile, 216km
– Stage 14 – Sunday, May 21: Aosta-Domodossola,
224km
– Stage 15 – Monday, May 22: Mergozzo-Brescia, 182km
– Stage 16 – Tuesday, May 23: Rovato-Trento (Monte Bondone), 180km
– Stage 17 – Wednesday, May 24: Termeno-Plan de Corones, 158km
– Stage 18 – Thursday, May 25: Sillian-Gemona del Friuli, 227km
– Stage 19 – Friday, May 26: Pordenone-Passo di San Pellegrino, 220km
– Stage 20 – Saturday, May 27: Trento-Aprica, 212km
– Stage 21 – Sunday May 28: Ghisallo-Milano, 140 km