The Real Giro 2026 Afternoon

[team fl]

Ciao tutti! Va bene?

The spring classics are over (just forget that German race at 1 May) - it’s time for the Grand Tours. And as everyone knows, the best comes first: the Giro d’Italia. Time to put on those rose-colored glasses, wear that violet shirt with the azure shorts and the red socks.

And as everyone also knows, the afternoon edition is the only real Giro on C4F! That's where Team FL will be, most likely with the following line-up:

X1 Manfred Matt
As No. 1, "Manni" will be protected in the GC stages (mountains) and try to get the best out of everything else too. But then again nothing really MATTers, if he can't spark a match in Italy.

X2 Arturas Andriuskevicius
The young lithuanian is the latest addition to the line-up. He will help the leaders and have some freedom from time to time.

X3 Erasmus Erpelding
Main job: Lead out for Vincent. Second job: have a decent time trial result. Third job: Finish the Giro...

X4 Felikss Fokerots
Felikss will be the key domestique for Manni, with some little chances to go for his own interests, if there's an opportunity for that.

X5 Raimo Rautsepp
Raimo will try to keep everybody in time. Might be the king of the Gruppetto already.

X6 Ricardo Rocha
In football terms, Ricardo is the libero of the team. He does whatever he wants.

X7 Rik Ribbens
Rrrrrik in the house! Most likely. Depends a bit on his first training in May...

X8 Vincent Verwimp
Easy: Goes for bunch sprints, if possible. The Maglia Ciclamino might be out of reach due to this year's course, but who knows.

X9 Wim Wijkstra
Wim is the third wheel in the sprint department as there is not pavé stage where he could shine.

Alternatives: Zenobio Zalazar for Rik Ribbens or Arturas Andriuskevicius. He's younger than Rik and has the better flat skill than Arturas. But he's not known for his regenartion skill.

Goals: No Fürst, weak classic department and little chances for bunch sprints. So, wasting lots of money and gruppetto work will be the main focus for Team FL in this year's edition. Cannon fodder in other terms. Other than that, we try to enjoy the bulgarian and italian landscapes with no pressure at all. Ah yes, try to be online more than 50% of the stages. That's also a thing.

[Tukhtahuaev]

Most likely also joining here though a few sitter days will be needed for sure.

Lineup not entirely sure yet, but probably something like this:

1: Graziano Alborghetti
Probably won't be able to win the team a third Maglia Rosa in a row, but will try his best to at least win the white jersey

2: Tlaloc Coyotecatl
Helper for Alborghetti and will most likely be seen in a few escapes to try for a stage win

3: Shohrat Dawamat
Helper, early tempo, maybe some escapes. Will pretty much have a different role every day

4: Zhansultan Dosmagambetov
Maybe the best rider of the spring classics, so he can't really stay at home. Will have a free role most of the time

5: Deimantas Girdvainis
Blocker for flat stages

6: Shokhzhakhon Mamatkhodzhaev
Similar to Dawamat, helper for the flat stages, free role everywhere else

7: Artem Palamarchuk
Sprint leader. Profiles are not looking especially sprinter friendly, but as MSR winner he has to be here

8: Kensi Taiwia
Flatmonster and blocker for the final kms

9: Terentiy Tikhomirov
Young classic with plenty of potential. Will do whatever he wants

Other potential candidates are Corentin Poitrenaud, Zemenfes Mengisteab and Oleksandr Piskun.
The aim for this Giro is to win at least 3 stages, the white jersey and get into the top 10 in GC

[Falcor CC]

Finally the Real Giro thread is here!

Falcor will start here too of course. Lineup isn't definitive yet, but it won't be until we see the field. Our provisional lineup includes:

X1 Magnus Jensen
Arguably the best classic of 2026 so far, Magnus starts the Giro after already having won Tirreno-Adriatico, the Brabanste Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race. He wants to end his career with a bang in Italy and because of his status and palmares he gets our #1, breaking the teams tradition of giving that to our best climber.

X2 Oscar Avalos
The young Mexican sprinter has only just joined the team, but gets the tough task of launching Max to sprint wins.

X3 Cesare Baddetti
As for most races, Cesare was the first name on the signup sheet. Having racked up over 200 races at 29 by the time the Giro starts, he is known for his incredible motor, willingness to ride and tireless work ethic.

X4 Loïc Callard
Always reliable, and can ride super fast above all. Here for an allround role, but his main goal is getting sprints.

X5 Domingo Cruz
The Mexican champion is looking to confirm his status as Magnus' successor by getting some good results in Italy and supporting our #1 and #2 where needed.

X6 Antonio Diego
The second part of our Mexican trio. Gets a pretty open role, where he can go for escapes, but also support both our mountain and sprint leaders.

X7 Max Dokker
The fastest man from Limburg is here to give the FLs a tough battle in the sprint!

X8 Jordan Henkey
Seems to love his sprint stat way more than his flat stat, so he gets to use all of his experience to launch the sprints.

X9 Luca Parri
Il Partigiano gets the nod to present the team as the main climber this year. More news about this decision soon!

Alternatives: While we look very much forward to competing against the (on paper) slightly stronger FL train, we know that we will have to adapt if a much better train joins the field. In that case, Thibault Kerken will replace Loïc Callard, Dave Barlington will replace Jordan Henkey, and Mick Rory will replace Oscar Avalos.

Goals: We hope to re-live last years dream of winning 4 stages (or even more this time!). No GC chances, so we focus on stages, the Maglia Ciclamino or even the Maglia Azzurra. Jensen and Parri are of course free to chase a top 10 GC finish as well.

[Robyklebt]

Falcor with an embarrassing lineup. Is something like that even allowed at the Giro? Afternoon Giro. Seems better suited to some lesser time. The real Giro has class. That means..... compare the announced lineups of FL and Tukh to yours, what is different?

[Falcor CC]

Falcor with an embarrassing lineup. Is something like that even allowed at the Giro? Afternoon Giro. Seems better suited to some lesser time. The real Giro has class. That means..... compare the announced lineups of FL and Tukh to yours, what is different?

Their #2 riders are losers?

[Rexona]

Welcome to the Giro 2026!

Also SouthWest Packers will start here to fight up the Maglia Rosa.

Following guys are registered.


1. Jamshid Abdurashitov ( The Captain)
2. Iwan Bondarew ( Mountain helper)
3. Jorge Icaza ( classic specialist)
4. Kamila Cichon ( classic specialist)
5. Indji Lub ( classic specialist)
6. Miodrag Belodedici ( classic specialist)
7. Adam Darski ( 60-80 guy to control the field after the first siebs)
8. Jin Zhiyi ( Rouleur with reg)
9. Danil Skutin ( Rouleur with reg)


Lets have some fun and hope for a nice field

[Robyklebt]

SWP too, not worthy!!!

[Rexona]

SWP too, not worthy!!!

More Mountain= more better?

[Falcor CC]

SWP too, not worthy!!!

More Mountain= more better?

Amen!

[Robyklebt]

No

Look at FL and Tukh: Donkey says, good!
Look at Falcor and you: Donkey says, not good!

[drei.zehn]

These lineups look horrible...
Cycling has his unwritten rules!!!

[Falcor CC]

After immense pressure from the press, the team conducted an extensive study (checked the starting list for the 2025 real life Giro) and has decided to change the order for our riders. I hope you're happy!

[Robyklebt]

We love Falcor!

[Nomorelulz]

Will probably ride here as I am in love with falcor and I want to get on Donkeys purple list. Lineup will follow when I'm more sure to ride here or giro at all.

[CircleCycle]

Unfortunately CC with most likely no time for the Giro (also no Team, but thats a different story), and even if, no time for the afternoon race.