Movistar have started the Giro d'Italia with one of the most competitive rosters. Even if Alejandro Valverde is the leader, Andrey Amador is a great climber. He finished 4th overall last year.

"I come here very motivated. We count on one of the strongest and most consistent leaders in the peloton with Valverde, and I take pride working for him. I will back his options for three weeks, and I will also play a second card for the Movistar team", Amador told the Spanish daily AS. "I have good legs, and I wanted to go full-gas in these first days to take advantage of the work. It’s important that I’m in a good moment. Maybe it’s the mountains [in Italy] that are long and steep, and I’ve adapted better than those of the Tour or Vuelta."

He delivering a great performance in the opening ITT. He crossed the finish line with the 3rd best time. But in the first Italian stage, the Costa Rican rider lost 40 seconds to the best GC riders.