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ABC News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Giro d'Italia challenge led by outsider Michael Storer as Aussie hopes hinge on supporting favourites
Michael Storer may have hoped to come into this year's Giro d'Italia under the radar. There's fat chance of that now. After winning the Tour of the Alps last month in a thrilling battle with Thymen Arensman, the 30-year-old West Australian has firmly announced himself as a contender for a podium spot at the year's opening grand tour. Not that the softly-spoken rider seems too worried. "I just take it as a compliment that people think I can do it," Storer said to a small group of journalists in an online press conference from Albania, where this year's Giro gets underway on Friday night (AEDT). "It just shows that I've come a long way, now I'm getting mentioned. "Hopefully I can also deliver on that. But if I don't, like, I'm used to getting beaten, so it's not a big problem for me." It's not as if Storer is an unknown. In 2021 Storer won the prestigious Tour de l'Ain as well as two stages and the mountains classification at the Vuelta a España, only the second rider from Australia to do so after Simon Clarke in 2012 (Jay Vine went on to win it in 2024). Storer also won the Tour de l'Ain in 2023, before coming 10th at last year's Giro — one of two Aussies who finished inside the top 10 overall, alongside Ben O'Connor (fourth). But it is his performances this year that have got his teammates purring, including a snowy stage victory at Paris-Nice. Road captain of Tudor Pro Cycling Larry Warbasse recently told the Cycling Podcast that Storer was capable of surpassing O'Connor's performance and making the podium. "Last year I did the Tour of the Alps and Giro d'Italia with Ben O'Connor. Michael is physically at least one level above Ben last year. "I think he is capable of showing great things … Michael really has that enormous talent. "On a purely physical level, Michael is capable of going for the podium. Even if he maintains the same level as in the Tour of the Alps. His values are unreal. "He himself prefers to go for stages, because that gives less stress. But when you're as good as he is, you just have to go for the general classification." When it was put to Storer that he was producing eye-catching numbers in training, he again batted off the question. "Him [Warbasse] saying I have really good power numbers, it was our first year as a teammate with him, so I've always been doing good power numbers, he just didn't know me before joining the team," Storer said with a grin. "But yeah, I found a little bit extra this year," he acknowledged. Storer has put extra emphasis on his position on the bike this year, particularly in the time trial, in anticipation of being able to challenge for general classification spots. Storer acknowledged that the time trial was "a clear weakness" for him, the Australian sacrificing too much time to his rivals to stay in contention. But the talent in the race of truth has always been there — Storer is a junior World Championship bronze medallist in the discipline, beating out noted time triallist Filippo Ganna in Ponferrada in 2014. With 42.3km on the TT bike at this year's Giro, Storer said the extra work he put into the event was key and could prove to be a bonus. "It's also an opportunity," he said. "Because working on it there's a lot more gains to be made, so hopefully that pays off this year." It goes without saying, that if Storer is to claim victory — or even stand on the podium in Rome on June 1 — he will need the ride of his life. "Who doesn't dream of it?" Storer said when asked if he was dreaming of wearing the pink jersey in Rome. "But let's be realistic here. It's extremely hard to win this race. "I'd be happy with my race as long as I do the best I can, whether that puts me in the top 10 or the pink jersey or or I'm struggling to get through, if I do the best race I can, I'm satisfied with that. "But of course I wanna bring home some results too." Working against him to get those results will be several of his fellow Australians, mostly in aid of their team leaders. Indeed, this 108th edition of the Giro d'Italia features one of the deepest fields of favourites at any grand tour this century and the Australian super domestiques could end up being decisive in the overall destination of the pink jersey. Five-time grand tour winner Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) leads the charge as favourite and one of five former Giro winners who will appear on the start line, with 22-year-old Spanish upstart Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates) tipped as his closest challenger. Roglič has 2022 Giro winner Jai Hindley at his disposal, while Ayuso will have last year's mountains classification winner at the Vuelta Jay Vine as part of his all-star cast of domestiques which includes former Tour de France young rider jersey winner Adam Yates, who may have his own aspirations of glory in the absence of world champion teammate and last year's winner, Tadej Pogačar. They are just two of the 14 Aussies on the start list this year. "I think it's really nice that we have a lot of Australians in the race," Storer said. "It just shows that what was going on in the cycling scene in Australia 10, 15 years ago, up until now, is really good for bringing us all up to a high level where we can all make it into the top of the sport. "And for Perth we also had a really good local scene back when I was coming through and that was really essential for me to becoming professional." It's not just Roglič and Ayuso who Storer will likely be up against, though. Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), winner in 2021, is finally looking like himself after a horrific collision with a bus almost cost him his life in 2022 and has Storer's Tour de Alps nemesis Thymen Arensman and Aussie Lucas Hamilton at his disposal. Even further down the list of contenders there are Aussies who will do anything to disrupt Storer's challenge. Aussie pair Simon Clarke and Nick Schultz will be working for Israel-Premier Tech's challenger, Derek Gee, Team Picnic PostNL's Alex Edmonson and Chris Hamilton are set to be Romain Bardet's top teammates, while Team Jayco AlUla will have Michael Hepburn and Luke Plapp working to set up Chris Harper for an assault on the top 10. Richard Carapaz (EF Education), the 2019 Giro winner, is another who cannot be discounted from the overall race win, as is Bahrain-Victorious's Italian hope Antonio Tiberi. At the other end of the peloton, Australian sprinter Kaden Groves has been handed leadership responsibility at Alpecin-Deceuninck with one goal in mind — the sprinters maglia ciclamino. The two-time defending points jersey winner at the Vuelta a España and eight-time grand tour stage winner (one of which came at the Giro in 2023, the other seven at Spain's grand tour) is yet to win a race in 2025, but was fifth in Milan-Sanremo and had a second and a third place finish at the Volta a Catalunya behind teenage British phenom Matthew Brennan. "For sure, we are aiming for stage wins at this Giro. That's what this team is built for, and that's our ambition again this year," sport director Gianni Meersman told the Alpecin-Deceuninck website. "Kaden Groves is our leader. After dealing with knee issues earlier this year, his full focus has been on the Giro, he's pain-free now, and we believe he's ready to show his form, hopefully right from the first sprint opportunity in Tirana." Belgian trio Edward Planckaert, Timo Kielich and Fabio van den Bossche will make up Groves' sprint train, although 24-year-old Victorian Jensen Plowright will also be on hand to assist, riding in his first ever grand tour. "This Giro will be about gaining experience," Meersman said. "It's time for him to taste what racing over three weeks is like. We see potential in him for the future." Six of the stages are classed as "flat" in this year's race, but a handful of those could be considered lumpy at best, downright hilly at worst, meaning sprinting is not going to be for the faint hearted — or potentially the big fast men. Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) is the most experienced straight sprinter of the bunch, with 10 grand tour stage wins to his name — albeit none since 2022 — although the 34-year-old Irishman has been in great form to start the year, picking up three wins. Rising French star Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick Step) is someone who cannot be discounted after he beat a host of top talent to the line in the first stage of Étoile de Bessèges earlier this year, with Milan Fretin (Cofodis) also one to watch after taking some serious scalps at the Volta ao Algarve. Visma-Lease a Bike seemingly have options aplenty in this regard, with Olav Kooij desperately fast on the flat and the clear sprint leader, but unfairly maligned team leader Wout van Aert is also in the pack, desperate to show the world that he still has it and could pick up plenty of points on the harder days. Mads Pedersen though should be the favourite, a rider who has proven his ability to power through the toughest of sprints after the toughest of terrains in the lead-up — he beat van Aert and classics king Mattieu van der Poel to finish runner up at the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The Giro gets underway on Friday night (AEDT), with all stages shown live on SBS Viceland.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie Storer scenting victory in Tour of the Alps
Australian Michael Storer has continued his excellent start to the European cycling season as he protected his lead in the Tour of the Alps and homed in on the biggest triumph of his career. But while the Tudor Pro Cycling ace held on to his 41-second lead in the five-day tour in Austria and Italy after a tough third stage on Wednesday, another Australian star Jai Hindley still looked a threat to his compatriot in fourth place. Storer had made his mark in Tuesday's mountainous second stage, soloing into Mezzolombardo after attacking 11km from home on the final climb and opening up his unexpected big lead over the field. Here is your top 3 in the GC!🎨 Dennis Pasini/Vitesse#TotA #LiveUphill — Tour of The Alps (@Tourof_TheAlps) April 23, 2025 That had been 28-year-old Storer's second striking stage victory of the season following his triumph from the breakaway in the snow on the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice in March. On Wednesday in Italy, Storer, again looking in the form of his life this season after enjoying a couple of Grand Tour stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana four years ago, was happy to defend his lead. He came home safely with the pursuing peloton on the 145.5km route between Sterzing and Innichen as home favourite Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech) grabbed victory by 19 seconds, with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's Hindley grabbing a six-second bonus by leading home the pursuers in second in a sprint finish. Thursday's fourth stage could prove decisive, another mountainous trek over 162.7km in Austria from Sillian to Obertilliach, but the undemonstrative Storer sounds quietly confident as he looks forward to the final two legs of the tour. Michael Storer takes Stage 2 and the GC lead at the Tour of the Alps! 👏 — Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 22, 2025 "When you're the strongest, you can just ride away like I did today," he had declared on Tuesday. "That feeling doesn't come often. I've only felt it on the days I've won before. When you feel like that, you're capable of a lot. I'm also stronger than last year, and that's really thanks to Tudor, who stand behind me and give me the support and belief I've been missing the last few years." Hindley, the 2022 Giro d'Italia winner, is now within 45 seconds of Storer's lead in fourth place, while second-placed Italian Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and third-placed Frenchman Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) are both 41 seconds behind.
Perth Now
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Aussie Storer scenting victory in Tour of the Alps
Australian Michael Storer has continued his excellent start to the European cycling season as he protected his lead in the Tour of the Alps and homed in on the biggest triumph of his career. But while the Tudor Pro Cycling ace held on to his 41-second lead in the five-day tour in Austria and Italy after a tough third stage on Wednesday, another Australian star Jai Hindley still looked a threat to his compatriot in fourth place. Storer had made his mark in Tuesday's mountainous second stage, soloing into Mezzolombardo after attacking 11km from home on the final climb and opening up his unexpected big lead over the field. That had been 28-year-old Storer's second striking stage victory of the season following his triumph from the breakaway in the snow on the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice in March. On Wednesday in Italy, Storer, again looking in the form of his life this season after enjoying a couple of Grand Tour stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana four years ago, was happy to defend his lead. He came home safely with the pursuing peloton on the 145.5km route between Sterzing and Innichen as home favourite Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech) grabbed victory by 19 seconds, with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's Hindley grabbing a six-second bonus by leading home the pursuers in second in a sprint finish. Thursday's fourth stage could prove decisive, another mountainous trek over 162.7km in Austria from Sillian to Obertilliach, but the undemonstrative Storer sounds quietly confident as he looks forward to the final two legs of the tour. "When you're the strongest, you can just ride away like I did today," he had declared on Tuesday. "That feeling doesn't come often. I've only felt it on the days I've won before. When you feel like that, you're capable of a lot. I'm also stronger than last year, and that's really thanks to Tudor, who stand behind me and give me the support and belief I've been missing the last few years." Hindley, the 2022 Giro d'Italia winner, is now within 45 seconds of Storer's lead in fourth place, while second-placed Italian Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and third-placed Frenchman Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) are both 41 seconds behind.
West Australian
23-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Aussie Storer scenting victory in Tour of the Alps
Australian Michael Storer has continued his excellent start to the European cycling season as he protected his lead in the Tour of the Alps and homed in on the biggest triumph of his career. But while the Tudor Pro Cycling ace held on to his 41-second lead in the five-day tour in Austria and Italy after a tough third stage on Wednesday, another Australian star Jai Hindley still looked a threat to his compatriot in fourth place. Storer had made his mark in Tuesday's mountainous second stage, soloing into Mezzolombardo after attacking 11km from home on the final climb and opening up his unexpected big lead over the field. That had been 28-year-old Storer's second striking stage victory of the season following his triumph from the breakaway in the snow on the penultimate stage of Paris-Nice in March. On Wednesday in Italy, Storer, again looking in the form of his life this season after enjoying a couple of Grand Tour stage wins at the Vuelta a Espana four years ago, was happy to defend his lead. He came home safely with the pursuing peloton on the 145.5km route between Sterzing and Innichen as home favourite Marco Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech) grabbed victory by 19 seconds, with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe's Hindley grabbing a six-second bonus by leading home the pursuers in second in a sprint finish. Thursday's fourth stage could prove decisive, another mountainous trek over 162.7km in Austria from Sillian to Obertilliach, but the undemonstrative Storer sounds quietly confident as he looks forward to the final two legs of the tour. "When you're the strongest, you can just ride away like I did today," he had declared on Tuesday. "That feeling doesn't come often. I've only felt it on the days I've won before. When you feel like that, you're capable of a lot. I'm also stronger than last year, and that's really thanks to Tudor, who stand behind me and give me the support and belief I've been missing the last few years." Hindley, the 2022 Giro d'Italia winner, is now within 45 seconds of Storer's lead in fourth place, while second-placed Italian Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek) and third-placed Frenchman Paul Seixas (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) are both 41 seconds behind.
Al Etihad
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Torres steps up for Team Emirates-XRG at Giro d'Abruzzo
18 Apr 2025 00:36 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) The UAE Team Emirates-XRG continued its fine week of racing in Italy when Pablo Torres took fourth place on Stage 3 of the Giro d'Abruzzo on Thursday. The young Spaniard made a daring late attack, moving up to third place in the general classification. Behind Torres, Stage 1 winner Alessandro Covi fought bravely to come over the line in eighth, leaving him sitting seventh overall heading into the fourth and final day of racing on Friday. Winning both stages of the Giro d'Abruzzo heading into Thursday, UAE Team Emirates-XRG looked to continue on the front foot and placed Rune Herregodts in the breakaway on stage 3. The Belgian rider attacked with 137 kilometres to go, alongside four other riders, with their group quickly gaining a significant advantage over the peloton. Not only did Herregodts spend much of the day as the virtual leader of the race on the road – forcing the likes of Tudor Pro Cycling to work behind – but he was also in the perfect position to help his teammates on the final 16.2km climb to the finish line. Standing at an average incline of 5.3%, the third big mountain of the day would bring the riders to the end of this year's Queen stage. With Herregodts out front, it was Torres who began to work over his opposition from the Spaniard began the day just 23 seconds off the race lead, and he followed a speculative attack from David de la Cruz of Q36.5 Pro Cycling some 9km from the summit. Riding hard alongside De la Cruz and Mathys Rondel (Tudor Pro Cycling), Torres began to make inroads towards Herregodts and his fellow survivor from the breakaway, Ben Granger (Vis Costruzioni Ambiente). Over the next couple of kilometres, Torres activated his satellite rider in Herregodts, who waited up for the chasers and began to extend their advantage over the peloton. At the 6.5km to go mark, Herregodts delivered his last big pull and waved goodbye to his teammate. In amongst these moments, as Granger was caught and dropped, young Colombian rider Edison Alejandro Callejas (Petrolike) made an opportunistic attack, and to his credit, it appeared as though he had the legs to cash this cheque. As the kilometres ticked by, the 24-year-old not only held, but extended his gap over the Torres group behind. While the wet conditions in Italy continued to cloak the mountain in a deep mist, Callejas pushed on, eventually crossing the line as the unlikely but well-deserved winner of the stage. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
