BORA booby traps: They know how to drive the competition crazy in the Giro!

Anyone opening the newspapers or cycling news websites these days to read about the Giro d'Italia will mainly encounter one name: Tadej Pogacar, the man for whom the course seems to have been designed. "A bit of a mess," he called it himself on Thursday, that it was all about him. But what potential traps lie ahead for the Slovenian? IDLProCycling.com inquired at BORA-hansgrohe, who have ample experience with potential pitfalls.

Opening stage in Turin: copy-paste of BORA-hansgrohe 2022?

In 2021, we started the Giro d'Italia with a time trial in Turin, and now we're back with a Grande Partenza in the northern Italian city, where a hill stage is on the agenda. The last time the Tour of Italy passed through the city, which hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics, was in 2022. And back then, one team managed to turn the race upside down: BORA-hansgrohe.

That year, the action climaxed near the Colle della Maddelena at the very end of the stage, a segment previously disrupted by BORA-hansgrohe under the guidance of team leader Enrico Gasparotto. While many expected a stage favoring breakaways in 2022, the German team had other plans. Near the outskirts of Turin, they strategically placed riders like Giovanni Aleotti, Ben Zwiehoff, and Lennard Kämna at the front, which ultimately led to sacrificing Wilco Kelderman’s place in the GC.

The result? Only nine men - with BORA-hansgrohe's Emanuel Buchmann in ninth place - remained in contention for the stage and overall victory, with pink jersey Juan Pedro López managing to limit the damage somewhat as he finished tenth in the stage, four minutes behind. Among others, Alejandro Valverde, Thymen Arensman, Vincenzo Nibali, Bauke Mollema, and Guillaume Martin were completely wiped out in the general classification, which ultimately set the stage for Jai Hindley's overall victory in the Giro.

Whether things will move so quickly in Saturday's opening stage is doubtful, according to Gasparotto. The Italian can't help but smile as we take him back to 2022. "That ride in 2022 was great, but it was precisely because we were able surprise everyone. This Saturday will be different, I think it's impossible to just surprise the peloton."

Elaborate, Enrico! "All the teams have been here in and around Turin for a while, so everyone will have scouted the course and knows what to expect. Of course, we have something in mind, but you'll see that on Saturday. The first stage of a grand tour is always going to be tough," the Italian tries to downplay expectations a bit.

And Martínez, what does he expect from the opening day and the following stage? "I see a tough start to the Giro, the first stage is immediately a tricky one. It's possible that a small group will go to the finish, where I might be able to use my punch. The ride to Oropa should suit me as well, but first, let's get through the opening day."

Stage six on Tuscan gravel roads: What did BORA-hansgrohe learn from their recon?

The upcoming Giro d'Italia, true to Italian tradition, features many mountain stages, but this time there's also a gravel stage included in the route. On day six, the peloton will travel from Viareggio to Rapolano Terme, facing eleven kilometers of gravel roads in the second half of the stage. BORA-hansgrohe wanted to be prepared and sent Gasparotto, Martinez, mechanic Mario Lexmüller, and intended team leader Lennard Kämna for recon in Tuscany at the end of February.

This provided some interesting insights, Gasparotto shared. "It was interesting to see the gravel roads; that much is certain. In such stages, danger is always lurking, so it's always useful to have scouted them beforehand. The final is not easy and we do expect some spectacle, but ultimately it also depends on how things stand in the Giro for everyone at that time. It could be an interesting stage, but I think the races on Saturday and Sunday are more important for now," explained the former Amstel Gold Race winner.

Martínez echoes a similar view. "It's going to be a nervous, stressful stage, so the reconnaissance is very important and has also provided us with a lot of information. This way, we can not only get to know the gravel sections themselves but also the kilometers leading up to the different sectors. It will definitely be a tough ride."

How exactly does he expect it to unfold? "You need not only strong legs but also luck. A mechanical failure at the wrong time can significantly set you back in the general classification. You can't win the Giro here, but you can certainly lose it. That's why I'm glad we've already been able to test the sections and the bike setup," said the rider who placed 37th in this year's Strade Bianche.

Second rest day (and surrounding stages) at altitude in Livigno: Impact is minimal, says Martínez

At Visma | Lease a Bike, they were aware during the past Tour de France that they could crack Pogacar at altitude, but does that apply to this Giro? Perhaps not directly, but as Geraint Thomas mentioned on Sunday, "I think he is still very good at altitude. He might prefer finishes below 2,000 meters, but it won't weaken him significantly. If we as a team are strong, there might be stages where he could be vulnerable, but that's rare. It did happen in the Tour de France in 2023, when Jonas Vingegaard took advantage of it."

If there is one group of riders that thrives at altitude, it's the Colombians. Martínez too just completed a rigorous training block in his homeland. "My knee was fine soon after I had to withdraw from the Tirreno-Adriatico, so I was able to train hard in Colombia. I spent a lot of time at altitude, and now I'm starting the Giro d'Italia with big goals. I definitely feel fresh, which could also be important in this Giro. The most challenging stages are in the third week, so there's still a long way to go. That's why it's important to be fresh at the start."

Regarding the impact of altitude in the Giro, Martínez is clear: it's minimal. "The stages around Livigno and those of Monte Grappa suit me, but so do the rest. In my opinion, going to high altitude won't directly affect the race. It shouldn't be a problem for the other riders either, since it's only for a few days." Martínez, understandably, wants to focus primarily on himself. "Pogacar is strong and has a strong team, but we need to see how things go during the race. I'm mainly focused on the general classification, that's what has been on my mind for a long time. The podium, that's my goal," states the man from Colombia.