JENS VOIGT AND ROLF ALDAG PREVIEW THE 2021 GIRO D'ITALIA

On the favourites for the Giro in 2021:

ALDAG: It could be exciting again until the end and, despite all the mountains, come down to the time trial on the last day.

VOIGT: I see it like this: All those who are not named Egan Bernal must directly calculate to lose two minutes in the just under 40 kilometers of time trial: Buchmann, Yates, McCarthy - they all have to ride in such a way that they get this time out somewhere and somehow before.

On Deceuninck–Quick-Step: 

ALDAG: Evenepoel will be as good as he can be at his level after the long injury. In the team, he still has a teammate in Joao Almeida, who takes pressure off him. This is a situation like at Ineos, where Bernal has Sivakov as a backup and Evenepoel has Almeida and Masnada. So they can also switch roles.

VOIGT: The team is forced to ride a multiple strategy. With all due respect to the guys, I don't see anyone there who can really compete with Bernal or Nibali. They don't have anyone who is a clear contender for victory or a podium candidate, so they have to muddle their way through. They can all finish third - or fifth, or twelfth. The race will tell - Evenepoel can also wear the pink jersey after five days - and be burned out after fifteen. Having a second option in Almeida is definitely a good solution. However, this very mountainous Giro does not suit Almeida as much as a more purebred mountain rider in my view.

On the outsiders or surprise favourites for the Giro:

VOIGT: My two hot outsider tips: Daniel Martin should definitely be considered for the many mountain climbs, if he doesn't crash. I also have confidence that he will be able to finish on the podium. And I think a lot of Fausto Masnada - who just finished third in the Tour de Romandie. For me, he's the unknown, who could ride unobtrusively and surprise quite a few favorites.

On Vincenzo Nibali:

ALDAG: We are all aware of him, just because of his tactical skills, his cleverness and his experience. In my eyes he's not a favourite to win the Giro, but one who will definitely entertain us. And if he sees his chance, even the memory of his crash won't slow him down. But he will lose some time in the difficult mountain climbs.

VOIGT: He knows all the mountains very well and he knows it might be his last year to have this top form. That's why we should have him on the bill.

On Egan Bernal and INEOS:

ALDAG: He is currently playing it all down a bit and practicing understatement. But his condition is even more uncertain than that of Buchmann. He has been suffering from back pain for so long now. There is no doubt about his talent - he won the Tour and did it in a tactically clever way, especially for his age. You just don't know about his physical condition: He can win the Giro or go home again after twelve stages with back pain.

VOIGT: Team Ineos has a luxury problem and almost more captains than helpers. But as Geraint Thomas' crash-out last year at the Giro showed, there's nothing wrong with having two leaders at the start. With Bernal, everything is possible: he can win the Giro in a brilliant way - or drop out early. So it's clever to backup your bets, and that also puts less pressure on Bernal. He can start into the unknown and if it doesn't work out, someone can take over and secure the result. Starting this mountainous Giro with Bernal after laboring around for so long is a brave decision.

On Emanuel Buchmann:

ALDAG: He was fourth in the Tour de France. He has the potential as a climber and a good team around him.  The minimum goal is the top ten, but there should actually be more possible. He has the experience and why not take a gander at the podium. Whereas the Giro is very well staffed and the competition is very tough.

VOIGT: I think his decision to start in the Giro this year is very clever and smart. There are far fewer time trial kilometers than in the Tour and that should suit him better. The Giro has eight mountain finishes, which is good for him. He hasn't raced in a long time and it's a bit of a start into the unknown now. I think fifth or sixth place is possible.