By Gregor Brown

Italy celebrates the start of its grand tour Saturday along the Mediterranean coast in Liguria, but in three weeks, when the race finishes in Milan, the odds favor another foreign winner. Sicilian Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) last won the race for Italy in 2013. Instead of returning in 2014, he aimed for, and won, the Tour de France. His agenda is the same for 2015.

Without Nibali, Italy lacks a strong contender for the overall classification. Its major hope, Fabio Aru (Astana), raced little this year and fell sick before an important tune-up stage race, the Giro del Trentino.

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Source: http://velonews.competitor.com/