Fabio Aru confirms start of the 2018 Giro d'Italia

The 27-year-old Italian national road race champion will lead UAE Team Emirates in the three-week Grand Tour starting in May

Italian super star cyclist Fabio Aru issued a statement to the press this week "I'm happy to go back on the roads of the Giro d'Italia which, for an Italian athlete, is a race that stirs special emotions. This year I will proud to participate with the Italian National Champion Jersey on my shoulders."

The statement will no doubt thrill the Italian Tifosi and cycling fans worldwide. Fabio Aru hasn't taken part in the Giro d'Italia for three year's as he concentrated on winning the Tour de France.

Aru won the Vuelta a España in 2015 proving his Grand Tour winning capability, Aru finished the Giro d'Italia in second place in 2015 and third place in 2014.

This years Giro d'Italia features eight summit finishes including the Monte Zoncolan, Monte Jafferu and Cervina climbs, all in the last 12 days of the Italian Grand Tour. Fabio Aru is planning to pull the Magila Rosa on top of his National Champions jersey and deliver an Italian Giro d'Italia winner!

Fabio Aru is to line up tomorrow for the start of the Abu Dhabi Tour with his UAE Emirates team which includes sprinter Alexander Kristoff and Diego Ulissi.