The third and last event in the Persian Gulf for Bardiani – CSF Pro Team will be the Tour of Oman. The stage race different from Dubai Tour and Tour of Qatar as there are more demanding stages and a summit finish on the Green Mountain in addition to a few sprint stages.

For this reason, the Italian team will present a new line-up composed by climbers and puncheurs, led by Sonny Colbrelli and Manuel Bongiorno who are already in good shape after their season debut at GP Costa degli Etruschi in Italy. Enrico Battaglin will also be at the start after he abandoned the Tour of Qatar on stage 2 following a crash. He has recovered in Doha and will now head to Oman.

”The route changes in Oman but the startl ist is still similar to a World Tour event," manager Roberto Reverberi said. "So it will be a new important test for our riders. We bring a line-up with 7 new riders and some of them with a chance to obtain positive results. I’m thinking of Colbrelli who has at least two finishes for his skills and Bongiorno and Zardini are both in a good position for the Green Mountain finish. There’s also Battaglin who comes from his Qatar crash. In the last days, he remained in Doha to train and if he’ll feel good on Oman he could try something."

”After the debut in Donoratico, we find really strong teams and riders in Oman, Colbrelli said. "I’m curious to see how my level is compared to one-day specialists like Kristoff and Sagan. If I look at the the route, the Al Bustan and Ministry of Housing stages seem good for me. It will be a really demanding week but I aim to come out with a brilliant condition."

"The first part of the season is all focused on the Giro d’Italia, so compared to previous years I started slightly slower," Bongiorno said. "In Oman there’ll be a first duel between the top climbers and I’m sure we will see a great battle on the Green Mountain. My goal is do the best there and maybe look to the white jersey of best young rider. To wear it could be a good reward for me and the whole team."

LINE-UP

Simone Andreetta, Enrico Barbin, Enrico Battaglin, Manuel Bongiorno, Luca Chirico, Sonny Colbrelli, Alessandro Tonelli and Edoardo Zardini.