Deceuninck-Quick-Step has announced that Luxembourg sportsman of the year Bob Jungels will make his third appearance in the classic race in 2019. The team released a statement saying that Jungels was “the first Luxembourger in more than half a century to win a stage at the Giro d'Italia, back in 2017”.

26-year old Jungels has twice finished in the top 10 overall and has also enjoyed stints as the race leader on both previous occasions, in 2016 and 2017, that he entered the race. He has worn the iconic pink jersey for a total of eight days. He also won the prized maglia Bianca for the best young rider on both outings. But now he is over 25, he won’t be eligible for that honour this time.

"I love the Giro, it's a beautiful and challenging race which always forces you to push beyond your limits, and I love the fans who cheer for us and give such a warm welcome every single time, making it an unforgettable and overwhelming experience,” said Jungels.

With the race bookended by individual time trials, hosted by Bologna and Verona, respectively, Jungels says the 2019 Giro is quite an interesting course. “The first week doesn't seem to be that hard at first, but some of the stages look unpredictable. There aren't many where you can say that a climber or a sprinter will definitely win, and so they will be a gamble, which is the kind of racing that I like.”

Ahead of the Giro, which takes place from 11 May to 2 June, Jungels will ride for his team at the Tour Colombia from 12 to 17 February. This is his fourth season in the Deceuninck –Quick-Step team, for whom he last year famously won the Liège–Bastogne–Liège race.