With less than two weeks to go until the start of the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de Alps mountain race is the first real indication of who is in form, who can challenge Maria Rosa, and how the overall battle will play out during the three weeks of racing in May.

Tour of the Alps overall winner Romain Bardet (Team DSM) was clearly in better shape and motivated, switching from chasing stage wins to targeting overall victory in the final stage around Lienz, Austria.

Bardet's tactics and Team DSM's execution suggest that the Frenchman is back to his Grand Tour best. If he recovers, he will be a threat in Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Team DSM has added sprinters Cece Boll and Alberto Dainese to its eight-rider roster for the Giro d'Italia, but Bardet will be supported by Chris Hamilton and Timen Arensmann.

Bardet is the second Frenchman to win the Tour de Alps, but unfortunately Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) will not participate in this year's Corsa Rosa. His absence will be greatly missed in what is expected to be a finely balanced overall competition.

Pinot, especially his Italian alter ego Tibo Pinot, loves racing in Italy as much as he hates the pressure and expectations of the Tour de France, but after two years of disappointment and injury, Groupama-FDJ was insistent that Pinot compete in the Grand Boucle. But after winning the final stage of the Tour de Alps, he promised to return in 2023 and even compete in the Giro.

In Pinot's absence, the Giro will be led by Hungarians Attila Valter and Michal Stoller of Groupama-FDJ, both of whom will leave a solid mark on the race.

Simon Yates, winner of the 2021 Tour de Alps, has opted to stay at altitude longer this year and will race only with his Bike Exchange-Jayco teammates at the Vuelta Asturias in Spain next week.

Richard Calapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) chose a similar buildup, spending time at altitude in his Ecuadorian home. However, Ineos Grenadiers raced as if they were in the Tour de Alps, and Pavel Sivakov made several powerful attacks in the mountains. He would be an excellent replacement and support for Karapas. Salvatore Puccio confirmed his ability as an experienced road captain, and Richie Porte was consistently up front, riding well enough to run the Giro where his career began as an amateur and where he won the Maglia Rosa in 2010.

Pello Bilbao and Bahrain Victorious were disappointed to lose in the final stage of the Tour de Alps, but heartened by a solid team performance over the five days of racing.

Bilbao maintained its best form throughout the entire Giro, and while it may be difficult for the overall contenders, its finishing speed and sharp tactical ability will allow it to take a stage win and perhaps an early Maria Rosa.

Mikel Landa will lead Barlene Victorious into the overall battle in Italy. He came close to winning the overall many times in the past, despite crashing out of last year's Giro.

2022 may finally be the year that his unpredictable and unique Randismo style of racing conquers the Corsa Rosa. He believes so, and he kept a relaxed and low-key demeanor during the Tour de l'Alps. The Bahrain Victorious team also includes Wout Poels, who has the ability to back up Landa's ambitions.

Miguel Angel Lopez has had a similar career to Landa and a similarly complicated past with Movistar, but he is also a candidate to win the 2022 Corsa Rosa.

He had a run-in with the Spanish team at last year's Vuelta a España, but Astana has been tolerant of the Colombian.

Lopez is Astana's team leader in the Giro d'Italia. He will have the crucial support of Vincenzo Nibali and American Joe Dombrowski, and hopes to stay under the radar, avoid early complications, and turn heads in the mountainous final week.

EF Education First has had a quiet season so far, but often does well in Italy in May. Alberto Bettiol is hoping to turn around a spring disrupted by COVID-19 with a Grand Tour in his hometown.

Hugh Carthy and newcomer Esteban Chaves lead the overall hopes of the American team. The Colombian won the Maglia Rosa in 2015, but lost it to eventual winner Vincenzo Nibali, finishing second overall. He is now 32, but could probably still win a stage and support Carty with a smile on his face.

Karthy had impressive runs in the 2019 and 2021 Giro, but retired suddenly early in the race at last year's Vuelta a España.

He built up his form in the Tour de Alps. He and his team know that the decisive big mountain stage is still a month away. Kersee is certainly in the hunt for the final podium in Verona on May 29.