With great performances by Domenico Pozzovivo and Carlos Betancur, Ag2r have been key protagonists in recent Giri d'Italia. The team aims to play a big role in the 2016 edition whose course was unveiled earlier today.
"The first three days in the Netherlands could be tricky with the wind," sports director Laurent Biondi said. "The first mountaintop finish is on stage. The Roccaraso time trial in Chianti on stage 9 looks very hilly and will comes before a rest day and a mountain stage. The second time trial in the mountains (stage 14, Castelrotto - Alpe di Siusi) is also placed before a rest day and a difficult stage which should be taken into consideration as it can always be difficult after a rest dat.
"The Giro returns to France for the 19th stage with finishin Risoul and a start in Guillestre the next day. We will climb passes over 2700 meters of altitude (Col Agnel and the Col de la Bonette) and this can be very unpredictable at this time of the year. Either the roads are accessible and we will see a great show or the stages will be changed or canceled and it can destroy the end of the race. It would be a shame.
"The route of the Giro is true to its reputation, difficult and spectacular. We will study the route in more detail during the winter and I think we have the weapons to shine there."
In recent years, Domenco Pozzovivo has led the team in the Giro but next year Jean-Christophe Peraud has made it clear that he wants to do the race in what will be his final season. It remains to be seen whether this will open the door for a Tour de France debut for Pozzovivo as Romain Bardet and Alexis Vuillermoz are also set to do the French grand tour.
17.04 - 21.04: Tour de Tunisie |
18.04 - 21.04: Eroica Juniores |
19.04 - 21.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
20.04 - 21.04: Gipuzkoa Klasika |
21.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège |
21.04: Giro della Romagna |
21.04: Gent-Wevelgem U23 |
21.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
21.04: Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes |
21.04: Gent-Wevelgem Junior |
Arno CLAEYS 24 years | today |
Henrietta COLBORNE 26 years | today |
Steve SCHETS 40 years | today |
Margot POMPANON 27 years | today |
Marco PONTA 37 years | today |
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