For Stig Broeckx and Louis Vervaeke the Giro will be the first Grand Tour of their career. It’s the second pro season for Broeckx, who will celebrate his 25th birthday next Sunday on the second day of the Giro. His teammate Louis Vervaeke became pro on the 1st of July of last year, he’s 21 years old.

 “It means a lot to me to be riding a Grand Tour for the first time. One often hears you only become a real pro once you have completed a Grand Tour," Broeckx said. "I’m curious to race the Giro. We have a nice team with André Greipel and Jurgen Van den Broeck as leaders, I’ll be happy to support them. That’s a role that really suits me.

"The first week there will be lots of work to get a sprint with André and in the mountain stages I want to stay at Jurgen’s side as long as possible.

"Considering this will be my first Grand Tour I don’t say I will join a breakaway in one of the stages. I’ll have to wait how my body responds to the succession of race days. I want to make sure I have enough energy to finish the Giro, then I will be satisfied. Of course I hope the team achieves its goals and that I can contribute to that.”

“At first I was afraid to start in a Grand Tour, but I talked to the sports direction and learnt that I am ready for it and that it is important for my development as a rider," Vervaeke said. "I wonder how I will react to three weeks of racing. It’s fantastic to go to this race as a 21-year-old.

"I will have to work a lot for the team’s leaders, but I also want to have a go of my own in some stages and maybe I can fight for a stage win. That will probably be in the second or third week. I will be happy if I can finish the Giro and still feel fine at the end. Top five or top three in a stage would make it even more fantastic, but that’s an extra and not necessary to have a successful Giro.”