Giro D’Italia preview: TV times, course layout, odds, favourites, who is missing

This year’s event begins with a trio of stages in the Netherlands, the first of which is a 9.8km individual time-trial in Apeldoorn. The following two stages - which both cover 190km - will suit the sprinters as well, as they go through the nearby countryside.

The race then moves to Italy - and the city of Cantanzaro - following a rest day and then zig-zags up from the south towards the north-west of the country.

The first mountain finish is on Stage 6 to Roccaraso, while the 40.5km time trial on Stage 9 could be vitally important as it is could lengthen any gaps between the top riders while travelling through the Chianti wine region. It gets no easier on Stage 10, in the Apennines, which is notorious for riders failing out of the reckoning by dropping significant sections of time.

Stage 15 - which falls before the last of three rest days - is also a key section, with a gradient of more than 8 per cent for most of the gruelling day. The main contenders are likely to make a move here so they can maintain their bids for the last quarter of the race.

Stages 19 and 20 are also tough tasks as the Giro heads to Risoul in France and returns to Sant Anna di Vinadio in Italy. The first day travels up Colle dell’Agenello - the highest point of the Tour at 2,774m - but is relatively short at 162km. Stage 20 also has a tough climb in the Col de la Bonette and reaches 2175m and this is make-or-break time for the leaders of the GC.

The Giro is completed with a 163km ride to Turin, where the winner is awarded the maglia rosa or pink jersey.

The coverage begins at 13.15 on Eurosport 1 on Friday. Click here for a full guide. It is also on Eurosport Player.

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana): "I struggled a bit at the Giro del Trentino, where I was recovering from my previous race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I’ve prepared for the Giro d’Italia as best I could. Looking back at the past two years, the most improved young rider has been Mikel Landa. He’s one of my main rivals for this Giro, and there are also good young riders in Tom Dumoulin and Esteban Chaves. There will undoubtedly be surprises along the race route too, so concentration will be key."

Mikel Landa (Team Sky): "I resumed racing only a little while ago so I don’t think I peaked too early at the Giro del Trentino. I believe I can still improve. It’s not a problem to have a sprinter in the team (Elia Viviani) because, if he wins, he can create a good feeling in the team, and it will keep us concetrated in the sprint stages, so I think it’ll play in my favour. It’s a great opportunity for me to lead Team Sky at the Giro d’Italia d’Italia, after a spell riding with Vincenzo Nibali at Astana. He’s very strong, uphill as much as downhill. He’s got real power and he’ll be hard to beat.”

Tom Dumoulin (Team Giant): "I think that I’m a bit more relaxed than I was last year when the Tour de France had it Dtuch start in Utrecht. I’ve learnt from experience. On Friday I believe my biggest rivals will be Fabian Cancellara, Jos van Emden and Vassil Kiryienka. At Tirreno-Adriatico Cancellara won the final time trial in a time that I’ll probably never be able to match so if he’s in the same form now, he’ll be very hard to beat."

Quotes courtesy of official Giro D'Italia website.

The race will be without a British rider for a second successive year after Alex Dowsett (Movistar) withdrew to have surgery on his collarbone.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) will also not race as he focuses on a third tour de France victory. This is also the case for other big names including Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). Meanwhile, Fabian Cancellara's participation is in doubt after he said on Twitter that he is suffering from a stomach bug.

Vincenzo Nibali: 6/4

Mikel Landa: 2/1

Alejandro Valverde: 6/1

Ilnur Zakarin: 14/1

Rigoberto Uran: 14/1