From the Tour of the Alps, two talents are projecting themselves towards the Giro d'Italia with ambitions that cannot remain hidden. If the Euregio race was more exciting than ever, much of the credit goes to the two guys who played it out until the end: Michael Storer (Tudor Pro Cycling) and Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers).

The first was by far the strongest athlete on the Euregio roads, proving a strength and form never seen before, while the second, with courage and creativity, made the race electrifying until the last day.

Storer, who won the Vipiteno stage and provided spectacular performances in Obertilliach and Lienz, is practically an acquired Italian, having moved to Varese at 19 to pursue his professional cycling dream, speaks perfect Italian, and has an Italian wife, Greta. Now living in San Marino, he continues to grow race after race. His palmares is becoming interesting: besides his Tour of the Alps win, he has also won two stages and a mountain classification at the Vuelta a España, a stage at Paris-Nice just over a month ago, and twice the Tour de l'Ain.

"I'm in the form of my life, I've never been this strong. Except for Pogacar and Vingegaard, I believe I can be included in the group of riders just behind them - confidently but calmly admits the Australian -. I think the key to my constant improvement is the good relationship with my coach Deckert, we've worked together for almost four years, we know each other well and this makes the difference. Over the years, I've transitioned from being mainly a domestique to a more central role, already with Groupama-FDJ although it didn't always go well, but with Tudor I believe I've taken another step forward as a classification rider."

Last year he finished 10th at the Giro d'Italia, this year he'll try to do better, perhaps driven by this Tour of the Alps result. "That's the big goal. I'm sure at the Giro I'll still have the right legs to try and battle. This victory doesn't change my approach to the pink race, I'm happy that some think I can aim for the Top 5, but I won't get distracted."

Arensman, on the other hand, tried to play a trick on him with a crazy but winning move in the Obertilliach stage, which allowed him to become the first Dutchman to win a stage at the TotA, overturn the classification for a day and wear the green jersey, only to give it back on the final day in Lienz.

"I take my hat off to Michael's performance, he proved to be the strongest, but I'm very satisfied with what I showed at the TotA".

The Obertilliach stage was also Arensman's first victory in the Ineos Grenadiers jersey, with which he has already achieved two sixth places at the Giro d'Italia. "I consider my journey with the team very positive. I was alongside a great like Geraint Thomas, I brought home a double sixth place at the Giro, the team has always given me more confidence and I have more and more in my abilities. From this year, we've opted for a slightly more aggressive approach, giving more opportunities to everyone in the team as happened at the TotA. It's riskier, but also more rewarding for those watching on TV. At the Giro I'll be co-captain with Egan Bernal and I like the idea, because we are different riders and this could allow us to play our cards differently. The last two years I was with Thomas, but we have more similar characteristics".

Storer and Arensman, who will do better at the Giro?

from tuttoBICI May issue