Despite losing a lot of time so far in the Giro, Viatcheslav Ekimov, Katusha’s general manager, has told Cyclingnews he expects Ilnur Zakarin to be able to show himself in the Giro.

“We can’t forget that this time last year he was winning the Tour of Azerbajan,” Ekimov told Cyclingnews. “He did more than well in Pais Vasco, won the Tour of Romandie. The only thing he’s missing is experience in a Grand Tour. He might be too explosive in the first week and then pay the price in the third."

“I’m quite confident, in any case, that we’ll see him in this race. He is a warrior, he never gives up.”

One stage that may suit the young Russian is stage 14, with the 59km time trial. He is a former Russian TT champion and based his recent Romandie win on taking some time on the GC favourites in the mountains before beating them all and almost taking out Tony Martin in the TT.