Earlier this week the 37th edition of the Giro del Trentino was presented in Trento. This year’s edition will feature a well-known four-day, five-stage design to take place from 16-19 April.

Last year’s winner, the minuscule climber Dominico Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale), will face determined opposition in his title defence as he returns to defend his title.

This year's race includes six WorldTour teams with Bradley Wiggins supposed to spearhead Sky Procycling prior to his quest for a second grand tour win at the Giro d'Italia. It would be no surprise if Wiggins arrives in Trento supported by a highly competitive team designed to repeat recent Sky successes at a string of stage races.

Cadel Evans (BMC), who of late proclaimed his intention to return to the Giro d’Italia fter a two-year interval when he finished fifth in 2010, joins fellow WorldTour riders Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Ivan Basso (Cannondale) Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) and Pozzovivo (Ag2r La Mondiale) as Wiggins’ main rivals.

Italian cycling fans will also be pinning their hopes for Italian success on reigning Italian champion Franco Pelizotti (Androni Giocattoli), Stefano Garzelli (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia) and, for nostalgic reasons, the elder statesmen Davide Rebellin (CCC Polsat Polkowice)

This year a 128.5 km stage around Lienz will serve as a warm-up for the afternoon's 14.1 km team time trial which was won by BMC in 2012.

At 224.8 km stage 2 is the longest of the race with a mountain-top finish in Vetriolo Terme designed to cause the first real shake-up of the GC. Two major climbs punctuate the stage with the final climb to the finish providing a 7.6% average gradient for nearly 15 km. This stage should prove a major test ahead of the mountain stages of the Giro which kicks off on May 4 in Naples.

The third day sees the peloton move from Pergine Valsugana to Condino on a stage that is more likely to witness a successful breakaway than any major overhaul of the general classification.

Stage 4 is one of the shorter stages but the last 50 km will be the decisive moments for riders with hopes of overall success. The last climb to the finish in Sega is just short of 15 km but includes sections of more than 15% and up to almost 20% at some places. The victor is almost bound to come from the front runners at the end of this 166.8 km stage.

The four-day stage race is likely to present cycling fans with final chance to see many of the Giro favourites face off as they make their final preparations for the first grand tour of the year.