The 2018 Giro d'Italia preview

May 2 | The 2018 Giro d'Italia starts in Jerusalem on Friday and ahead of the first grand tour of the season, Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe meet up at the classic Italian cafe, Italia Uno, in London's Charlotte Street to preview the race.

They each pick three things they are looking forward to – from the course, to the riders to the cuisine. There’s also a brief recap of the 2017 race to get everyone in the Giro mood.

Team Sky’s Chris Froome heads to the Giro hoping to win his third grand tour in a row but with a cloud hanging over him following the adverse analytical finding for excessive salbutamol in his system during the Vuelta a España last year. The case is still unresolved and many feel his determination to race while there are still questions will cast a shadow over the Giro. The other favourites include defending champion Tom Dumoulin, Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who was fourth overall last year, and the Colombians Miguel Angel Lopez and Esteban Chaves.

We hear from the Giro race director Mauro Vegni about the decision to start the race in Israel, and from Simon Yates, who will be sharing leadership responsibilities for the Mitchelton-Scott team with Chaves.

The Cycling Podcast's Giro coverage will start on Friday after the prologue with an episode after every stages.

The Cycling Podcast is supported by Rapha and Science In Sport.