Giro D'Italia: Early Ranking of the Top 5 Contenders in 2015

With the Giro d'Italia route announced on October 6, the attention has already turned to who will don the famous Maglia Rosa after the final stage in Milan next May, with Alberto Contador and Chris Froome the early favourites.

This year we saw Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar) prove his credentials by picking up his first Grand Tour win, taking the title by nearly four minutes from compatriot Rigoberto Uran (OPQS).

Quintana, 24, is thought to be planning his 2015 season around the Tour de France and therefore is unlikely to defend his crown.

But in Quintana's absence, some of cycling's biggest names are likely to take to the start line in Liguria on May 9.

While it is too early to guarantee who will be riding the Giro, here is my list of early favourites—comprised of riders strong enough in the mountains not to lose meaningful time to their rivals but strong enough to shake up the leaderboard in Stage 14's long 59km time trial.

Giro d'Italia wins: 1

Grand Tour wins: 6

Grand Tour Top-10 finishes: 7

Alberto Contador may be at an advantage on this list due to the fact he's one of the few riders to have openly stated his plan to ride the Giro d'Italia.

The Spaniard, who won September's Vuelta a Espana, will attempt to complete three consecutive Grand Tours by also targeting next year's Tour de France—a plan encouraged by his maverick boss Oleg Tinkoff. 

"El Pistolero" has a history of success in Italy, topping the podium in 2008 and 2011, before the latter was rescinded for a doping violation.

While his time-trialling ability may not be as strong as it was in his younger days, Contador, who will be 32 by the time the race rolls out, is still strong enough against the clock not to lose any meaningful time.

And his mountain-climbing ability remains second to none, with his trademark out-of-the-saddle attacks continuing to baffle even his strongest opponents, like when he repeatedly dropped Chris Froome in the Vuelta.

Winning back-to-back Grand Tours is no mean feat, especially when trying to keep enough energy in reserve to have a crack at the Tour de France, but Contador is sure to give it his all as he searches for his seventh (legitimate) Grand Tour win.

Giro d'Italia wins: 0

Grand Tour wins: 1

Grand Tour Top-10 finishes: 5

There is no guarantee that Chris Froome will race in the Giro d'Italia, but if he were to take to the start line in Liguria, the 2013 Tour de France champion would surely be among the favourites.

According to Sky Sports, Froome is "intrigued" by Alberto Contador's intentions of racing the Giro and Tour double, but with a favourable route announced for the Giro, there is no reason why the Brit could not also race in both.

Like in France in 2013, next year's Giro route plays to Froome's strengths, with the long time trial offering him the chance to put several minutes into the likes of Contador and Vincenzo Nibali if he is on form.

In the mountains Froome has shown in the past that he can hang in there with the best of them, even though he is now heavily marked by the rest of the peloton.

But for Team Sky, the target for 2015 is once again the Tour de France, and according to Reuters, team principal Sir Dave Brailsford is relying on Froome to challenge for the title once again, so the Brit may not be at his peak if he does race in Italy.

Giro d'Italia wins: 1

Grand Tour wins: 3

Grand Tour Top-10 finishes: 9

Even thought the Giro route does not incorporate his native Sicily, 2014 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali is not ruling out competing in his home tour in 2015.

Defending his Tour crown is the Italian's main priority next year, but if main rivals Chris Froome and Alberto Contador take on the Giro-Tour double, then it's certainly possible that Nibali will do the same.

Nibali showed his hand early in this year's Tour, leaving Froome and Contador in his wake on Stage 2 in Yorkshire, showing his explosiveness on the hills can see him pick up time.

After Froome and Contador both crashed out of this year's Tour, Nibali went on to dominate the race, winning four stages and claiming the yellow jersey by more than seven minutes.

And it was his performance on the 54km time trial between Bergerac and Perigueux which seals his already strong credentials for the Giro, finishing fourth, ahead of all his nearest rivals.

Nibali has never raced the Giro and Tour in the same season but could become the first person to win both in the same year since fellow Italian Marco Pantani did so in 1998.

Giro d'Italia wins: 0

Grand Tour wins: 0

Grand Tour Top-10 finishes: 2

American Tejay van Garderen is a bit of a wildcard in this list, given that he's never raced a Giro d'Italia before, but this route is something that would suit him down to the ground.

With two top-10 finishes in the Tour de France under his belt, the 26-year-old knows what is required to succeed in the three-week races.

And, according to The Inner Ring, the long time trial mid-race and the American's ability to recover quickly from day-to-day in the mountains means he could be a threat in the Giro.

But with team-mate Cadel Evans hanging up his wheels, Van Garderen is BMC's only real hope for the Tour de France and a double for the relative youngster looks unlikely.

If he does line up in Italy with the serious intention of being in the mix, then don't be surprised if the American ends up on the podium.

Giro d'Italia wins: 0

Grand Tour wins: 0

Grand Tour Top-10 finishes: 3

The Giro d'Italia is fast becoming Rigoberto Uran's favourite race.

With three consecutive top-10 finishes, including back-to-back runners-up spots, the Colombian will undoubtedly be back in the mix come May 31 in Milan.

Since moving from Team Sky to Omega Pharma-QuickStep in 2014, Uran has really improved his time-trialling ability, no doubt thanks to racing alongside three-time world champion Tony Martin.

Uran won the 42km time trial in the 2014 Giro, coming second in the 36km race against the clock in the Vuelta last month before being forced to abandon with bronchitis before stage 17.

In that remarkable Vuelta time-trial performance, Uran put more than 15 seconds into Alberto Contador, showing the Colombian has all the qualities needed to win a Grand Tour.

Predicting winners in a cycling race is a difficult art, with so many potential candidates having the chance to pull off a shock.

Katusha veteran Joaquim Rodriguez has been on the scene long enough to know what is required to win a Grand Tour and is strong enough in the mountains to lay a challenge.

But against the clock, the Spaniard has never really excelled, leading to his expulsion from this list.

Also missing out is Irishman Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp), whose crack at the 2014 Giro was ruined by a crash in the opening team time trial.

Martin's seventh-place finish at the Vuelta in September shows he has got what it takes to compete, but the likely participation of some bigger names means his chances of glory are slim.

And finally, 2014's bronze medallist, Fabio Aru (Astana), also misses out on this list due to the presence of team-mate Vincenzo Nibali.

If Nibali does not compete, then Aru could be a force in the mountains, but with the climbs being fewer and shallower than in this year's edition, the route does not particularly suit the up-and-coming Italian.