The 2014 edition of the Giro d’Italia is almost underway, and as the excitement increases, more and more race favorites are sharing their thoughts on the course and team approach just before they will line up at the start in Belfast on Friday. Team Astana leader, Michele Scarponi, revealed that he expects the general classification to be decided in the brutal final week, but nonetheless intends to take it day by day since the hectic grand depart may abound in crashes and provide surprising outcome.

In the absence of last year’s Giro d’Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali, Scarponi will lead a truly formidable Astana squad consisting of Valerio Agnoli, Janez Brajkovic, Enrico Gasparotto, Borut Bozic, Mikel Landa, Paolo Tiralongo, Andrey Zeits and Fabio Aru as a second protected rider.

Scarponi, who won the Italian grand tour in 2011, unsurprisingly admitted that Giro d’Italia is his favourite race and even though he is not regarded as the main title contender, feels confident about his condition following an altitude training on Mount Teide and recent appearance at the Giro del Trentino.

“The Giro d’Italia is the race I like most, the one in which I can express myself best. It’s hard to conquer, on paper there are many rider who can win and who are considered bigger favorites than me, but I’m well prepared and like every other year I’ll do my very best in order to obtain good result,” Scarponi told in the interview for Elloriadio.

 “Recently I participated in the long altitude training camp with the team on Teide, then I rode the Giro del Trentino with a good sensations. Even though I haven’t been brilliant, I wasn’t too far from my best either. Last 10 days I decided to spend with my family to recharge my batteries.”

The 34-year old Italian expects this season’s Giro edition to be decided in the brutal final week, but is wary of the opening stages on narrow Irish roads and intends to take the race day by day.

“The race becomes increasingly difficult as the days pass by, and the last mountain stages are going to be very complicated. The problem is that it won’t be easy even in the opening part as the departures from abroad are always dangerous and marred by crashes.”

“Personally, I’ll try to tackle the Giro day by day, without looking too attentively at the climbs in upcoming stages. It’s the only way you can take it from the first to the last day without getting too anxious,” Scarponi concluded.