The Venezuelan condor, third in the 2005 Giro, analyzed exclusively for LatinAmerican Post the event that starts this Friday in Jerusalem

Today kicks off the Giro d'Italia 2018 party. There will be 3546 kilometers of hard battle that will be established from Friday, May 4, with 21 days of competition and 22 teams ready to leave everything on the ground in the 101 edition. The competition it will begin unprecedentedly from the city of Jerusalem, it will cross the majestic fractions on Italian soil and will arrive on its last day to the splendid city of Rome.

Leer en español: Entrevista: José Rujano pronostica que “viviremos el Giro de Italia más reñido de los últimos años”

Who are the big favorites to stay with the race? Where will your keys pass from the competition in this 2018?

José Rujano, former Venezuelan cyclist, presents for the Latin American Post the full analysis of this cycling event in Italy. Ruano was the winner of three stages of the Giro d'Italia, champion of the mountain and podium of the general classification (2005). Rujano is also the winner of a Tour of Malaysia and a Tour of Colombia

"We must admire the runners we have today, I tell them from my own experience, cycling is an exhausting sport, that's why we have to applaud all those young people who represent us" JR

" The truth is that this year will be a very exciting Giro, for me, the most disputed of recent times, as they will be some of the largest in the world . Luckily I was able to run five turns and I certify that it is the race with the most mountain on the planet, which is why the exalted climbers will have the chance to win, "says the so-called condor of the Andes, who, among other things, gave the toupee to win in two stages to Alberto Contador for the year 2011, that same edition that would finally take the kid out of pIGNORE INTO.

"The rider who wants to be a champion must have a very well-trained squad" JR

Who are the favorites?

About the aspirants to the title for this 2018, Rujano referred to four important names, starting with Chris Froome , who according to him, will arrive with thirst and hunger for glory to the event. "He who says that Froome will not be in the fight lies. We are talking about the four-time Tour de France champion, that's why we can never rule it out, even after so many legal problems. For me, he and the SKY team will do everything possible to win, and if everything goes well, they will get it, "argues the former Venezuelan rider.

The other three names with which the Venezuelan ex-rutero completed the list were Vicenzo Nibali, Miguel Ángel López and Tom Dumoulin , all with clear wins to win, but above all the squalor of the Mediterranean strait.

"I remember that in 2011, when I won the Etna and finished sixth in the general classification, the Nibali skittle was starting to take its first steps, which I had promised since that time. Nibali also has something that others do not and I felt it when I ran with him, and it is a fixation to win everything, that only the champions have. For that reason, I believe that it will return to the clear aspirants to victory. "

"I think that this year, having such a mountain, it will be vital to follow up on the performance of the teams" JR

What are the keys?

On the other hand, the condor of the Andes, assured that the keys of the race will go through how hard the teams arrive, as well as the advantages that can be obtained in the race against the clock.

"I think that this year, having such a mountain, it will be vital to follow up on the operation of the teams. I understand that El Movistar is doing well, as well as the Astana of Miguel Ángel López to whom I put a chip, and of course the SKY that never fails. So , the rider who wants to be a champion, must have a very well-tuned squad . "

Finally, Rujano, who today lives his quiet days in Venezuela, away 100% of the sport, took the opportunity to send a greeting to all his followers in the world of cycling, whom he always remembers with great affection. "Many say that I was the best Latino cyclist of my generation, I do not know, what I do know is that we should admire the riders we have today, I tell them from my own experience, cycling is a strenuous sport, that's why you have to applaud all those young people who represent us. "

Latin American Post | Freddy González
Translated from "Entrevista: José Rujano asegura que “viviremos el Giro de Italia más reñido de los últimos años”"