Alex Dowsett misses out on Giro d'Italia as Movistar name squad to back Quintana
Movistar leader Nairo Quintana to be backed by strong team of domestiques as he tackles the 2017 Giro d'Italia (May 5-28)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

British time trial national champion Alex Dowsett has not been named as one of the nine riders taking part in the 2017 Giro d'Italia (May 5-28) for the Spanish Movistar team.
The 28-year-old from Essex had featured on the provisional roster for the opening Grand Tour of the season, but was not named in the final line-up revealed on Monday.
Despite a strong performance in the Tour de Romandie last week, where the 2013 Giro stage winner placed second in the prologue and went on a long-range solo attack on stage three, Dowsett will sit out the Italian Grand Tour.
>>> Giro d'Italia 2017 full route details
Movistar's squad has been wholly built around the general classification aspirations of leader Nairo Quintana. The Colombian is attempting the 'double' of contesting the Giro and then the Tour de France in July.
Perhaps seeing Team Sky's recently-announced line-up to back co-leaders Geraint Thomas and Mikel Landa, where Italian sprinter Elia Viviani was a surprise omission in favour of domestiques, Movistar appear to have followed suit.
Andrey Amador, Winner Anacona, Daniele Bennati, Víctor de la Parte, José Herrada, Gorka Izagirre, José Joaquín Rojas and Rory Sutherland will all back Quintana.
Quintana won the Giro in 2014, and the Vuelta a España last year. He goes into the race as leading favourite alongside defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida). Quintana won stage two of the Vuelta a Asturias on Sunday, and finished second overall.
"This year's route is a very tough course, a demanding one," Quintana said of the Giro. "The last week has an impressive amount of mountains to overcome. Big gaps should be made there - I feel like this year’s course has sought for the strongest climber to win it.
"I went on a recce of some of the final week’s stages some months ago: I had a look at Piancavallo and Asiago, as well as the previous climb to Monte Grappa, who will be a hell of a climb, but also the Blockhaus and the Foligno TT."
On the subject of his big rival, Nibali, Quintana said: "This is ‘his’ race, he’s at home, it’s the 100th Giro. Surely he’ll reach the start in very good shape, and with his team racing it together for the first time, they’ll surely want to make their mark."
The 2017 Giro d'Italia – the 100th edition of the race – kicks off in Sardinia on Friday, May 5 and concludes three weeks later in Milan, on Sunday, May 28.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, n exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
-
20 year-old sprints to clean sweep at British Track Champs
Emma Finucane wins two titles on the closing day of the championships
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
Marius Mayrhofer pulls off surprise win at Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
DSM rider breaks down with emotion after he crosses the finish line
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Where next for Nairo Quintana? Colombian claims he'll still be at WorldTour races
Bahrain-Victorious say no, Movistar are full, Astana-Qazaqstan and AG2R-Citroën have already denied interest
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Nairo Quintana’s Tour de France tramadol disqualification upheld
CAS uphold the UCI decision to disqualify the Colombian after painkiller detected in blood tests
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Movistar quick to quash Mark Cavendish signing report
Italian press speculation over future of sprinter denied by Spanish team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Giro d’Italia 2023 route: Every stage detailed for the 106th edition of the Corsa Rosa
Taking an in depth look at all 21 stages of the 2023 edition of the Italian grand tour
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
Changing of the guard: Seven top cyclists who have retired in 2022
Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tom Dumoulin have all called time on their careers this year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Nairo Quintana to leave Arkéa-Samsic, six weeks after signing new contract
The Colombian is currently appealing his Tour de France disqualification
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Van Vleuten confirms her superiority with Ceratizit Challenge GC victory
Elisa Balsamo takes the final stage bunch kick on the Madrid circuit after consummate work from Trek-Segafredo
By Owen Rogers • Published