Favorites stage 2 Giro d'Italia 2024 | Survivor, Italy edition: early alliances will be crucial!

On Saturday, the peloton raced around Turin, the site of the Grande Partenza, but by Sunday, the Giro moves away from this northern Italian city. The race begins in San Francesco del Campo, close to Turin's airport. From there, the route heads north, eventually leading to Oropa.

During the first 95 kilometers, the riders mostly have plenty of time to ease into the day, as the course presents no major challenges initially. After the intermediate sprint in Valdengo, at 93.9 kilometers, the road starts to gently rise toward Valle San Nicolao and Crocemosso, offering more of a gentle slope than a harsh climb.

The first real challenge is the Oasi Zegna (5.7 km at 5.1%), where the gradient becomes noticeably steeper. Following a brief descent, the Nelva sector (3.2 km at 6.6%) rapidly approaches, posing a tougher test. At the summit, about 25 kilometers remain, consisting first of a rapid descent and then the final ascent up to Oropa.

The Santuario di Oropa lies at the top of a climb of 11.8 kilometers, at a 6.1 percent gradient. It has hosted some spectacular cycling duels throughout history. In 1999, this was where Marco Pantani famously surged past his rivals one by one, coming up from behind to eventually take the victory. The most recent victor on this ascent is Tom Dumoulin, who staged a remarkable comeback in 2017 to claim both the stage and, ultimately, the Giro.

Those who examine the climb to Oropa will notice that it presents two distinct challenges. The initial five kilometers feature a deceptive gentle incline, followed by a grueling stretch at 9.5 percent. Afterward, there is a brief flat section before the route ascends nearly eight percent in the final four kilometers. That final section is likely where significant gaps could emerge.

Climbs
122.7 km: Oasi Zegna (5.7 km at 5.1%)
137.4 km: Nelva (3.2 km at 6.6%)
161.0 km: Santuario di Oropa (11.8 km at 6.1%)

Times
Start: 1:05 PM
Finish: around 5:13 PM

Similar to Saturday, the riders can expect favorable weather conditions. The wind will be in their backs for most of the day, including during the final climb. The temperature will hover around 14 degrees Celsius, with a small chance of rain by late afternoon.

Jhonatan Narváez of INEOS Grenadiers currently dons the pink jersey, adding intrigue to the race dynamics. Will Geraint Thomas' team support Tadej Pogacar and his recently vulnerable UAE-Team Emirates? Alternatively, Pogacar might prefer to avoid the spotlight and pass the pink jersey to someone else for the time being, with Narváez possibly maintaining his lead.

If the general classification contenders push hard towards Oropa, Pogacar stands out as the clear favorite. However, history shows that early breakaways often seize the opportunity to capture the pink jersey in the Giro's first week, as seen with Andreas Leknessund (2023), Juanpe Lopez (2022) and Attila Valter (2021).

This time, who might we see attempt such a feat? Mauri Vansevenant of Soudal Quick-Step, known for his explosive power, is a strong contender. Others include Visma | Lease a Bike's Attila Valter and Jan Tratnik, along with Max Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe), Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani), Lorenzo Fortunato (Astana), Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla) and Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ), who typically do not pose threats in the overall standings. And, of course, let's not forget Julian Alaphilippe.

While the fight for the pink jersey is pivotal, this article primarily focuses on the battle for the stage win. It is uncertain if the GC contenders expect to challenge Pogacar immediately. Nonetheless, this stage presents a prime opportunity for riders like Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike), Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) and Daniel Felipe Martínez (BORA-hansgrohe) to capitalize on the misfortunes of Saturday's defeated riders, Arensman and Bardet.

The quest for daily victories is seemingly open from the outset, particularly given the poor performance of UAE-Team Emirates on Saturday. In this light, a successful break by riders like Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost), Will Barta (Movistar) or Tour of Romandie sensation Florian Lipowitz (BORA-hansgrohe) could well be on the cards. This element of unpredictability could make this year's Giro particularly captivating.

Top favorite: Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates)
Outsiders: Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers), Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Atilla Valter (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step)
Long shots: Ben O'Connor (Decathlon AG2R), Daniel Felipe Martínez, Max Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe), Cian Uijtdebroeks (Visma | Lease a Bike), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Michael Storer (Tudor), Giulio Pellizzari (VF Group-Bardiani), Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost), Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers), Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla) and Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal Quick-Step)