'Dropping Thomas was impossible. I could only make up for it by winning the stage,' says FDJ rider
Formerly known as the Giro del Trentino, the renamed Tour of the Alps has served as a popular Giro d'Italia tune-up for years in addition to being a respectable prize in its own right as a 2.HC race on the Europe Tour.
Offering riders an opportunity to stretch their legs on serious high-mountain climbs, the race expands its range a bit this year from northern Italy into Austria, with much of the route skirting the border between the two countries. The five-day event kicks off in Kufstein with a lumpy opener followed by another undulating second stage before three climber-friendly mountain stages. The Tour of the Alps peloton will close out the race in Trento after taking on the fearsome Monte Bondone climb on the fifth and final stage.
Landa is back for 2017. His fitness is a question mark after 12 months without any marquee results, but Sky has a strong alternative in Geraint Thomas as well. FDJ's Thibaut Pinot, BMC's Rohan Dennis, Cannondale-Drapac's Pierre Rolland and AG2R's Domenico Pozzovivo are other Giro hopefuls who plan to make the start and could be in the mix at the Tour of the Alps
