For Angelo Citracca’s Southeast team, the 2015 ended with overall victory in the Coppa Italia race series. In an interview with Tuttobiciweb, the manager draws the balance of the year.

"Overall it was pretty good,” he told the Italian website. “So far we have won 23 races and the national team title was the icing on the cake. You must always loo at the ratio of how much you invest and how much you get and our balance for the 2015 season is of course positive in this regard.”

The overall win in the Coppa Italia was the highlight of the year.

“It was very important because we will be allowed to wear a special logo on our jerseys and will get an invitation for the 2016 Giro d’Italia,” Citracca said. “Being already guaranteed to be able to compete in the Giro is good for the athletes and the staff, a guarantee for sponsors and for the management that will allow us to have a calmer winter.”

Citracca is quick to select his first highlight of the year.

"The victory in Donoratico with Belletti,” he said, referring to the GP Costa degli Etruschi. “To win the first race of the year is the best way to start a new adventure. Manuel surprised me positively. Despite the misfortune (he had a fractured kneecap and in the season finale he suffered from shoulder problems), he has proved to be a great rider.

"I am happy with Belletti, [Jakub]Mareczko and in the season finale also [Andrea] Fedi. Andrea has recovered after so many injuries. He is a nice runner for the future. The negatives were Elia Favilli who was set back by so many physical problems, and Luca Wackermann. I expected a little more from Gavazzi who went so strongly but missed the results that you would expected from a rider with experience in the World Tour when he gets an easier calendar. Let's say that he should have had 2-3 victories that never came.”

Citracca has mostly finalized his roster for 2016.

"We have confirmed Manuel Belletti, Jakub Mareczko, Eugert Zhupa, Liam Bertazzo, Andrea Fedi, Matteo Busato, Giuseppe Fonzi, Samuele Conti, Mirko Tedeschi and Tomas Gil plus Colombian Cristian Rodriguez who ride as a stagiaire, and neo-pro Mirko Trosino, coming from Mastromarco Sensi Nibali. They are joined by Colombian Daniel Felipe Martinez, born in 1996, Spaniards Cristian Rodriguez and Julen Amezqueta, Venezuelan Gilbert Ducournau and Italian Matthew Draperi, born in 1991."

It has been rumoured that Luca Scinto will return to the team in a sports director role and that Mirko Rossato will joined from Bardiani in a similar capacity.

"First, I want to define the management and complete the roster,” Citracca said. “The rumors that have been circulating are not unfounded but I cannot formalize anything. In a few days you will know more.”

The goals for 2016 are clear.

"It would be nice to win a stage in the Giro,” Citracca said. “We have missed one for some years. It would be important to the sponsors and to remain in the minds and hearts of the fans. I ask Belletti, Mareczko and Fedi to confirm as they have the potential to do well and to prove their value.”