When the Giro d’Italia kicks off on Saturday, Team Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox will not only field the youngest line-up, averaging just 24 years, but they will also be the only squad consisting exclusively of Italians.

In fact, team leaders Stefano Pirazzi and Sacha Modolo, 26 and 25 respectively, will be the veterans of the Italian team.

“In fact we take to the start with four debutants but I’m confident that Pirazzi and Modolo will be able to guide them through,” said Sports Director Bruno Reverberi to Radsportnews.com

Despite the inexperience that accompanies young age, Reverberi has confidence in his team whose defined goal is to take a stage win at the corsa rosa. “Our riders belong to the most talented of a new generation in Italian cycling and they all have the potential to snatch a stage victory at the Giro.”

In the sprints the team will rely on Sacha Modolo, who has already won a stage at the Tour de San Luis this year, while climber Pirazzi will seek his fortune in the mountains as all-rounders Colbrelli and Battaglin will be on the lookout for breakaways and stage wins in the hilly stages.

The ambitions of the team go beyond stage wins, though. Pirazzi was 7th this year at the Giro del Trentino and won the KOM in that race last year and he will be seeking to establish his climbing credentials in this year’s Giro. In his quest for glory in the mountains he will be aided by Stefano Locatelli who recently finished 9th in the Giro del Trentino.

“Both Pirazzi and Locatelli will be able to spring a surprise or two,” according to Reverberi. “They’ll both stay alert on the mountain stages and because these are difficult to control, they might be allowed to break clear.”

Even though the team roster is full of young and talented riders, Reverberi does abandoned all hope of taking the best young rider competition. “Carlos Betancur (AG2R) has shown way too good legs recently for us to contemplate that competition,” said Reverberi.

The Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox roster is completed by four debutants: Nicola Boem, Francesco Bongiorno, seventh at the Coppi e Bartali earlier this season, Marco Canolo and Edoardo Zardini.

Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox for the Giro d'Italia:

Enrico Battaglin, Nicola Boem, Francesco Bongiorno, Marco Canolo, Sonny Colbrelli, Stefano Locatelli, Sacha Modolo, Stefano Pirazzi and Edoardo Zardini.