Bardiani and YellowFluo have announced their rosters for the first race of their season, the GP Costa degli Etruschi, which opens the Italian season tomorrow. While the former team hope to see Enrico Battaglin and Sonny Colbrelli come to the fore, the latter lines up new signing Simone Ponzi and Mauro Finetto who both have a chance to excel on the tough course in Donoratico.

After months of preparation, it is finally time for the teams to start racing and tomorrow many of the Italian teams will get their first chance. After a one-year absence from the February calendar, the GP Costa degli Etruschi is back in its usual role as the opening race of the Italian season.

However, there will be no big bunch sprint as there has traditionally been at the end of the race in Donoratico. Held in September in 2013, the race used a much harder course for the most recent edition and this will again be the case tomorrow when two late passages of Torre Segalari climb are set to make for a more selective race.

Bardiani-CSF Inox hope to come out with all guns blazing and have a number of riders that can shine on this tough course. The team will be led by Giro stage winner Enrico Battaglin who could both survive the climbs and win a sprint from a reduced group.

"The winter has gone well," he said. "I was able to train with continuity and hope to be immediately competitive in the first race of 2014. Maybe I am still not in top condition, but I'll give it my all to be ahead in the final."

If Battaglin falls off the pace, the team has another rider with similar capacities. Sonny Colbrelli is ready to get his season off to a good start by winning a reduced bunch sprint tomorrow.

"I arrive at the first race of 2014 with great motivation and with a great desire to do well," he said. "With the team, we have trained optimally in recent weeks in both Spain and Tuscany. The condition in the last test was good and so I believe in a good performance in the GP Costa degli Etruschi. This season is very important for me and I want to start on the right foot. "

Colbrelli and Battaglin will be supported by fast finisher Enrico Barbin, domestique Marco Canola, climbers Francesco Bongiorno and Edoardo Zardini. Stefano Pirazzi and Stefano Locatelli were originally set to do the race but a late decision has been made to replace them with Angelo Pagani and neo-pro Paolo Colonna.

"Finally we start," manager Roberto Reverberi said. "This winter, our athletes have been training well and in the last days of our camp they had the opportunity to improve their condition. At the GP Costa degli Etruschi, we aim to be leaders. The course with the climb of Torre Segalari suits several of our riders, most notably Battaglin and Colbrelli. I think 20-30 riders will arrive at the finish to fight for the win and I hope that our cards are present in the leading group."

Having held their team presentation yesterday, YelloFluo-Neri Sottoli will show off their new kit for the first time in the race in Donoratico. The team will be led by new signing Simone Ponzi whose fast finish and good climbing legs make him a perfect fit for this race. The same can be said of Mauro Finetto who was in splendid condition at the end of last year.

The team will also line up two sprinters in Daniele Colli and Rafael Andriato who may find the going a bit too tough on the final climb. That shouldn't be the case for climbers Yonathan Monsalve, Francesco Failli and Matteo Rabottini while new signing Andrea Fedi complete the roster.

"We are ready and excited ," manager Luca Scinto said. "For the first time we start with the name of a sponsor [Neri Sottoli] that has grown with us over the years and now is one of the leading Italian companies in the food sector.  Hopefully, we will do well and as always we plan to attack and be at the front."

Bardiani for GP Costa degli Etruschi:

Enrico Battaglin, Sonny Colbrelli, Francesco Manuel Bongiorno, Edoardo Zardini, Angelo Pagani, Marco Canola, Enrico Barbin and Paolo Colonna

YellowFluo for GP Costa degli Etruschi:

Simone Ponzi, Mauro Finetto, Matteo Rabottini, Yonatan Monsalve, Francesco Failli, Andrea Fedi, Daniele Colli and Rafael Andriato