Ranking: The Best Italian Riders #1

Coming in at number 1 in FloBikes' best Italian rider rankings is Giulio Ciccone. This may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but hear us out. Ciccone's 2019 season was a near perfect display of quintessential Italian racing. Ciccone took the blue climbers jersey on in the stage 1 individual time trial, then put himself in every major breakaway of the Giro to amass an unsurmountable lead in the competition. Ciccone rode with audacity, passion and fearlessness from the base to the top of every mountain, rarely crossing the KOM line further back than first place. Ciccone's winning ride in stage 16 where he attacked at the base of the Mortirolo, descended through freezing rain, and out powered an uncooperative breakaway companion with chattering jaws and freezing limbs was one of the most outstanding victories in the Giro. Ciccone's ride to take the yellow jersey from Julian Alaphilippe in the early stages of the Tour de France cemented the Ciccone's place as the best Italian of the season, and perhaps the next great grand tour rider that the country will produce.