Manx cyclists Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh start the race second only in importance to the Tour de France today.
Both are in the Team Sky squad of nine for the Giro d'Italia.
Island resident Ben Swift was a late withdrawal after suffering a fractured shoulder in training.
The opening stage is the Team Time Trial and takes place in Denmark.
Cav believes six of the 21 stages could end in sprint finishes - the first two are on Sunday and Monday in the country where he won his World title last year.
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