Be prepared for a cracking Giro d’Italia ...

TEAM DIMENSION DATA for Qhubeka line up for the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia on Friday, the African team’s second crack at the prestigious European event.

Dimension Data bring a strong roster eager to fight for glory in Italy during what is bound to be three weeks of hard racing.

This year’s Giro d’Italia is set to be a cracker. Not only is it the centenary edition of the race, it also presents one of the strongest fields in many years.

The course is beautifully designed with the opening stages on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily before moving in-land to take on the remaining part of the race.

Igor Anton, Natnael Berhane and Omar Fraile will have their say in the mountains, while Kristian Sbaragli and young South African debutant Ryan Gibbons (winner of the Tour de Langkawi) will be eager to perform well in the sprints.

Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Daniel Teklehaimanot and Johann van Zyl will be important players for setting up their teammates and trying their own luck in the breaks, while Nathan Haas will have a chance to fight for glory in the undulating stages.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of the centenary Giro d’Italia for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka and we are looking forward to a spectacular race,” Dimension Data team principle Doug Ryder said.

“We’re really happy to take a very strong team to the Giro including five African riders, one of whom is Ryan Gibbons, our young South African who will make his grand-tour debut.

“This is something incredibly special for him but it also shows this team has come an incredibly long way.

“We have a deep passion for the Giro d’Italia and Italian cycling, and as a team we have committed to racing the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia to put 100 girls on bicycles through Qhubeka.”

The first three stages look set to be dominated by the sprinters, even though stage two may produce a surprise winner with a late climb before a long descent towards the finishing line.