Mauro Vegni, Giro d’Italia race director has begged fans to judge the 2015 edition of the race after it has finished rather than on its start list.

The race features big names like Porte, Contador, Aru and Uran. But of the sports leading stars, only Contador is a proven Grand Tour winner still in his pomp.

“It’s normal to ask why they race the Tour or try to salvage their season in the Vuelta a España,” Vegni told Cycling Weekly about the rest of the sport’s stars who have opted to miss the Giro.

“It frustrates me somewhat, but we don’t have anything to be jealous about compared to any other race. The Vuelta had all the big names last year, but I don’t want them to come to my race after having gone poorly at the Tour de France.”

He says that while he doesn’t care that Froome, Quintana and co. haven’t shown up to the race, he would have liked to have seen Vincenzo Nibali here in his home Grand Tour.

“The only thing that bothers me, if you can say bother, is Vincenzo’s absence. He’s Italian and he’s won the Tour. Of course, he says that he wants to defend the Tour title and then there are those who say that he won the Tour due to circumstances last year,” Vegni said.

“I understand his motivation. He wants to show that he’s the strongest and that he can win again. Clearly, though, I would’ve like to have him here.”

He says that while he doesn’t regret Froome’s absence, he says the Brit could have done great things in the Giro and has a greater chance to win the Giro than he does the Tour de France, thanks to the Giro’s long time trial.

“Froome could’ve have done a lot with the time trial in the Giro,” added Vegni. “In the Tour, without a big TT…? It’s hard to say until the race is over. Everyone criticised Nibali, but then he won the Tour.”