TUSCAN WEEKEND AT STRADE BIANCHE AND GP LARCIANO
Bardiani-CSF return racing on Italian roads during the weekend. On Saturday, February 4, the #GreenTeam will be on the scene of Strade Bianche, the 175 km spectacular and Classic-look-like race around Siena, this year included in UCI World Tour calendar; the day after, Sunday the 5th, the same team will compete in Larciano (Pistoia) for Gran Premio Industria & Artigianato, 199 km up & down race, 1.HC category.
Line up – The eight men squad at disposal of team director Roberto Reverberi includes seven riders coming from Abu Dhabi Tour experience – Simone Andreetta, Nicola Boem, Mirco Maestri, Stefano Pirazzi, Alessandro Tonelli, Luca Wackermann and Edoardo Zardini – and one from Tour de Langkawi, Simone Velasco, who recovered from gastrointestinal problems suffered during the race.
Quote – “We’re going to face two demanding races with starting lists full of big names” said Reverberi. “Our target is always honoring the competition at our best. Strade Bianche became a race for North expert riders and, although we need to improve our expertise, we look for a gutsy ride; Larciano is suited for the the characteristics of our riders and we’ll have for sure few options to play”.
Facts – Since the first year of its experience the #GreenTeam always raced both races. The best results achieved at Strade Bianche has been taken by Canola in 2014 (22nd) while at GP Larciano Bongiorno placed third in 2014. Average age of the squad is 25 years old – Pirazzi the oldest (29) and Velasco the youngest (21). Bardiani-CSF will compete in the weekend after 25 days of race achieving one win (Barbin at Tour de Langkawi), one podium (Ruffoni at Tour de San Luis) and fifteen top ten placements with four different riders.