Rider List for 2012 Giro d'Italia

Barring any last minute changes these are the 198 riders, representing 22 teams, which will be participating in the 2012 Giro d'Italia (click on images to enlarge):

Favorites for GC among the Italian riders are Michele Scarponi (team captain for the race from Lampre-ISD), teammate Damiano Cunego, and winner of the 2010 edition Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale). Among the foreign riders the favorites include Franck Schleck, a last minute entry due to Jakob Fuglsang's knee injury (Team Radioshack Nissan Trek), Roman Kreuziger (Astana), Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), last year's 3rd place finisher John Gadret (AG2r La Mondiale), Jose Rujano (Androni) and Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Barracuda).

Among those that could provide some surprises in the GC are some young riders: Taylor Phinney (BMC), Peter Stetina (Garmin Barracuda), Jack Bodridge (GreenEdge), Geraint Thomas (Sky), Dennis Vanendert (Lotto Belisol) and Manuele Boaro (Team Saxo Bank).

Big names among the sprinters will make for some exciting finishes: world champion Mark Cavendish (Team Sky), ex-world champion Thor Hushovd (BMC), Tyler Farrar (Garmin Barracuda), Mark Renshaw, (Rabobank), 2011 Milan-Sanremo winner Matthew Goss (GreenEdge), JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank), Theo Bos (Rabobank), Arnaud Demare (FDJ Big Mat), and Gianni Meersman (Team Lotto Belisol). The Italian sprinters to watch: Francesco Chicchi (Omega Pharma – Quick Step), Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini – Selle Italia), Sacha Modolo (Colnago CSF Inox), and Daniele Bennati (Radioshack Nissan Trek). 

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