WORLD TOUR DEBUT AT ABU DHABI TOUR
After seasonal and Italian debut, Bardiani-CSF is now approaching its first race in UCI World Tour circuit. From February 23 to 26, the #GreenTeam will race the four stages of 3rd Abu Dhabi Tour, third event of 2017 WT calendar. Race preview suggest a challenge for sprinters, with a medium mountain stage on third day to outline the final classification.
Line up – Team directors Bruno and Roberto Reverberi will lead eight riders included key sprinter Nicola Ruffoni, rouleur Nicola Boem, Simone Andreetta, Mirco Maestri and Alessandro Tonelli together with the ones who have good climbing skills such as Stefano Pirazzi, Luca Wackermann and Edoardo Zardini.
Quote – “Competing in a World Tour race is a big push in and of itself but, most important, is a chance we have to fully exploit” said Roberto Reverberi. “We selected a well equipped squad with enough experience. Looking to race route, Ruffoni will be our leading man but, as happened at Dubai Tour, we will try to exploit every situation to shine”.
Facts – Bardiani-CSF will attend Abu Dhabi Tour for the first time while in UAE has already raced at Dubai Tour with Boem winner of 2017 intermediate sprints jersey. For key sprinter Ruffoni is the third race of the season after Vuelta San Juan – third place in stage 4 – and GP Costa degli Etruschi. Wackermann and Zardini are the ones who raced most – eight days – while Pirazzi attended only Italian debut. Average age of the team is 26 years, with Pirazzi the oldest (27) and Andreetta the youngest (23).