It will be almost a full year since the Colombian last showed he was amongst the premier climbers in the world with a stage win on Mount Etna at the 101st edition of the Italian Grand Tour.
Now after a series of hard early season stage racing, which included the recently completed Volta a Catalunya, Caves has been given the all clear by a watchful Mitchelton-Scoot medical team to ride in support of team leader Simon Yates.
“It will be special like always when I go back to Italy," Chaves said. "I have a special relationship with Italy and last year in Rome was one of the toughest days on the bike for me. Last year’s Giro, for me and for the team, had a lot of ups and downs, so to go back there for this race is special and exciting.
“We are a team who always give 100 per cent to each other. We will do the same at the Giro and we are already doing that at the last races with this goal in mind.
"The expectations are the same as always. Enjoy racing and being part of this team, attacking and being aggressive just like we were on the final stage of Catalunya."
With that completed block of training and racing now behind him, Chaves is regaining his confidence and is slowly putting aside fears of a return of the mononucleosis which made 2018 one to forget.
“I was super excited to return to racing this year but also nervous and I can't lie, sometimes panicked," he said. "What happened last year is something is out of my control. When I was finally back training and racing, somewhere in my head I was worried that it can come back.
“Luckily, I have this team and people around me who support me 100 per cent and we did everything in our control for my health.
“Now I feel much better than the start. Before, everything was with a lot of question marks, but now I can see and I have experienced what is possible.
"Every day of racing we took a step forward. I'm on the good path to arrive at the best level I can without health problems.”
