The 26-year-old Italian is a fascinating contender for this year's Tour and in with a real chance despite this being only his second appearance in the race.
He burst onto the scene in spectacular style by winning the 2004 Giro d'Italia as a 22-year-old, a performance which few of his rivals in this year's race can match.
An infection - mononucleosis - which he contracted the winter afterwards held him back, but he showed he'd lost none of his ability when winning the white jersey for the best young rider on his debut in the Tour de France in 2006.
He showed in that race with podium finishes on the stages into L'Alpe D'Huez and Morzine that he can live with the very best climbers and he's also twice won the Tour of Lombardy.
He caused plenty of dismay to Italian cycling fans when choosing to bypass this year's Giro d'Italia in favour of the Tour de France, citing the fact that he is better suited by the emphasis being very much on climbing rather than time-trialling in this year's Tour.
And that's a hint worth bearing in mind because his preparation has also gone to plan too.
He's spent much of the build up training back home near Verona but demonstrated he'll be a force to be reckoned with by winning the Amstel Gold Race in Holland in April when Alejandro Valverde and Frank Schleck were among those left trailing.
And a fourth-placed finish in the Tour of Switzerland was just what the doctor ordered a couple of weeks before Le Tour gets under way.
He's rightly identified that this year's Tour is more open than ever and - thanks to a route which plays to his strengths - everything looks in place for a sustained challenge over the coming weeks.
