Mark Cavendish rides off stage at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Thibaut Pinot waves to the crowd at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Remco Evenepoel waves at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Intermarche show off their new jersey at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
EF Education-EasyPost at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Ineos Grenadiers on stage at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Primoz Roglic at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Remco Evenepoel rides on stage at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Soudal-QuickStep at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Giro d'italia jerseys were shown off at the team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Tao Geoghegan Hart waves during the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Ben Swift and Geraint Thomas during the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Giro d'italia winner's trophy(Image credit: Getty Images)
Thibaut Pinot was a favourite at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Giro d'italia team presentation was held in the dark(Image credit: Getty Images)
Mads Pedersen at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jack Haig leads Bahrain Victorious at the Giro d'italia (Image credit: Getty Images)
Israel-Premier Tech show off their new colours at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jayco AlUla fly the flag for Australia at the Giro d'italia team presentation(Image credit: Getty Images)
The countdown to the start of the 2023 Giro d'Italia included the official team presentation on Thursday night, with the 22 teams showing off their final rosters and some new colours for the first Grand Tour of the season.
Most of the 176 riders that make up the 2023 Giro d'Italia peloton arrived in Abruzzo on the central Adriatic coast on Wednesday and went for their first training riders on Thursday morning to shake down their new bikes and have a first look at Saturday's opening time trial along the coast.
World champion Remco Evenpoel, three-time stage winner Primož Roglič, Geraint Thomas and 2020 champion Tao Geoghegan Hart all faced the media in a series of scheduled video press conferences, revealing their hopes and ambitions for the Corsa Rosa, with Alasdair Fotheringham and Barry Ryan attending for Cyclingnews.
The teams underwent some pre-race photography and video shoots for television and then rode on stage between 8:30 and 10:00 pm local time in Pescara, waving to the crowd when they perhaps preferred to be enjoying a plate of pasta.
EF Education-EasyPost showed off their new patchwork colours which replace their usual pink kit to avoid a clash with the leader’s magia rosa. Intermarché-Circus-Wanty also showed their new kit for the Giro, with the sky blue and fluorescent colours created by the shape of wine stains to thank sponsor Vini Zabù.
Israel-Premier Tech also has a new red and blue jersey to honour their sponsor Vini Fantini, which is based in Abruzzo.
Most riders appeared lean, clean shaven and ready to race, with Mark Cavendish trying his hardest to speak in Italian, João Almeida showing off a new moustache and Roglič appearing happy and relaxed. Evenepoel was a little more serious but seemed to enjoy the cheers from the tifosi.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
He and his Soudal-QuickStep wore face masks before riding on stage to avoid any risk of catching COVID-19 from other riders or race staff. The recent cases at Jumbo-Visma have concerned some teams and the Dutch squad line-up on stage with just seven riders as Sam Oomen was still travelling to Italy.
The riders head out for final training rides on Friday, most on their time trial bikes, for a look at the 19.6km time trial course from Fossacesia Marina to Ortona along the stunning Ciclovia bike path.
Click or swipe through our photo gallery to get a real feel of what happened at the team presentation.
✅ Teams Presentation 👏 A tutte le squadre e corridori... in bocca al lupo!👏 To all teams and riders... best of luck!#GirodItalia #Giro pic.twitter.com/jMi2PydG4iMay 5, 2023
Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
