THE IRISH QUARTET of Dan Martin, Nicolas Roche, Chris Juul Jensen and Philip Deignan have been officially confirmed for the 2014 Giro d’Italia.
The Irishman are part of a strong field that will compete for the coveted Pink Jersey in May. The 2014 tour begins in Belfast before the second stage takes them around Antrim and part of Derry. Stage three will go from Armagh, through Louth, and finish in Dublin. The race will then return to Italy.
Roche, who won a stage and pressed for overall glory in last year’s Vuelta Espana, will be given the opportunity to lead his Tinkoff Saxo team provided he starts strong. He would have been able to claim seniority, citing his positive 2013 record, had it not been for the knee injury that he picked up in training camp last November.
Martin has been named as part of a healthy Garmin Sharp line-up of riders that includes Andre Fernando Cardoso and Ryder Hesjedal. Martin, who is Roche’s cousin, claimed a memorable stage nine win at last year’s Tour de France. His victory was the first for an Irishman in 21 years.
Deignan — another former Vuelta stage winner — is named on a 10-man Team Sky racing roster than includes seven different nationalities. Team notables Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome are not included in the list. Juul Jensen was born and raised in Ireland to Danish parents. He is listed as a Dane but Jensen, a teammate of Roche’s, will be eager to make an impression in the country he grew up in.
Other names of interest in the 220-man list of competitors include Australia’s Cadel Evans [third place in 2013], Ivan Basso [two-time Giro winner], Michele Scarponi, Rigoberto Uran and Nairo Quintana [King of the Mountains at 2013 Tour de France].
Vincenzo Nibali, who won last year’s Pink Jersey for topping the G.C in 2013, is focusing on this year’s Tour de France.
Full a full list of the 2014 participants click here >>
