Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins has said that he is not particularly concerned about the route of the Giro D'Italia which starts on Saturday in Naples.
Speaking about the first Grand Tour of the season, Wiggins said to the Team Sky Press Office: “It’s not something that I really study. I try not to look at it all in one go - I try to let [Head of Performance] Tim [Kerrison] do that. He, Dario [Cioni] and [Sports Director] Marcus Ljungqvist have gone away to look at the stages and recce it all. They just drip the information into me as we get closer and pick out places we should go and look at. That helps me to take the race one day at a time without looking too far ahead. It’s just my way of handling it.
“I tend not to look at the routes. They are what they are. When a road goes uphill you could be anywhere in the world. Uphill is uphill, on tarmac. No matter the name of the climb. It’s always hard.
Wiggins admitted that he had always enjoyed the Giro and said: “It’s a lot different to the Tour in so many ways. It tends to be much more about the sport in Italy. People just love cycling. It’s a lot more relaxed at the start every day and people come out to see the riders. I’ve always enjoyed being at the Giro. It’s a nice race.
“Alongside the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix, the Giro d’Italia is one of the biggest bike races in the world and one I’d love to win. I’ve watched the Giro since I was a kid and have seen my idols win it, which makes it even more special. It has always been a race that I’ve wanted to ride well in and I just can’t wait to get started.
“I believe the Giro team this year is just as strong as the Tour de France team last year and the results prove that everyone is ready to go.”