Elia Viviani is targeting the points classification’s cyclamen jersey as the 101st Giro d’Italia gets under way on Friday, but the Italian icon isn’t hiding the fact that the event’s famous pink jersey is his ultimate goal.
The first of the year’s three Grand Tour races began on Friday, with a short but tricky individual time trial in Jerusalem, the first time one of the three major races in cycling – the others being the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana – began outside Europe.
Viviani, 29, will be one of the riders to watch during the next three weeks, as the Italian returns to his beloved home race for the first time since 2016.
The Quick-Step Floors rider has enjoyed a fine start to the 2018 season, with six victories to his name – including winning the Driedaagse Brugge – De Panne title in early March as well as the Dubai Tour title in February.
He won the points classification at both the Dubai and at the Abu Dhabi Tours, and is targeting the cyclamen jersey – formerly the red jersey but changed back to cyclamen, named after the flower, for the 2017 edition.
“I have a good condition and I’m here to finish the Giro, but I know it won’t be easy, because it’s such a hard race,” said the Verona native.
“On the other hand, having a flat stage in Rome on the final day is a special motivation, so I’m going to do all that I can to get there.
“I’m happy that the team presented me with this opportunity and that I have such a strong squad around me. I want to repay their confidence and will give everything that I have for this.”
Elia Viviani celebrates winning Stage 2 of the Abu Dhabi Tour in February.
A stage winner in Genoa, back in 2016, Viviani has nevertheless not had the best of times at his home race, recording a best finish of 119th on his debut in 2013, while he failed to finish last time he appeared two years ago.
But he was hoping to start the opening weekend on the front foot ahead of the race heading to the homeland on Tuesday.
“My dream is to win the cyclamen jersey and a couple of stages, but we need to take it step by step,” added Viviani.
“Let’s see first how the first two stages, in Tel Aviv and Eilat will unfold, and afterwards we can start thinking of this.”
Being a sprint specialist could see Viviani getting his hands on the Giro’s famous Maglia Rosa jersey early on and even though the race gets more mountainous as it goes on, winning the overall title remains a dream.
“I won’t hide the fact that I think of it (winning), but I’m also aware that if I go full gas for the bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint, then I can lose some energy for the final sprint,” he said.
“Friday’s individual time trial will give us more answers. It’s a bit too long for my taste and it will be a hot day, but I’ll try to do my best.”
Quick-Step Floors team for the Giro d’Italia:
Eros Capecchi, Fabio Sabatini, Elia Viviani (all Italy); Remi Cavagna, Florian Senechal (France); Michael Morkov (Denmark); Maximilian Schachmann (Germany); Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic).
