It was a peculiar day at Team Colombia-Coldeportes’ headquarter in Adro (Italy). The much-expected decision on the Wild Cards byRCS Sport saw the Team directed by Claudio Corti earn the invitation for Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Sanremo and il Lombardia, but miss out on the Giro d’Italia, after the Escarabajos had taken part with pride and valuable results in the last two editions.

Claudio Corti is an experienced manager, and certainly not prone to controversy, but his disappointment can be clearly perceived: “We are very sorry, because we believe we deserved to race the Giro, and our performance in 2014 and 2013 stand to prove it clearly. On the other hand, we are receiving many demonstrations of esteem and consideration, and a huge wave of comments in the social media confirms – if needed – the enthusiasm and affection our team managed to raise.”

“Our goal was always to win a spot for the Giro and the Vuelta. RCS selected us for the other races, but left us out of the Giro; we are hopeful to get bigger consideration from the Vuelta a Espana. Less deserving teams – either from an ethical, competitive or professional point of view – were picked instead of us. I think the history of a sports club, and of its managers, should also be a factor”.

“I have the utter respect for the organizers, and a relationship of real esteem and friendship with Mauro Vegni," Corti continued. "Mauro said he wanted to sustain Italian cycling while also targeting the international development in strategic territories. Still, our team has been regularly registered in Italy for all our four years, complying to every regulation, and certainly represents a strategic target for the Giro – as a country and as a continent… For all those reasons, it is hard to me to understand this decision.”

“In addition," Corti concluded, "respectfully speaking, I believe a country like Colombia, that is bringing a lot to cycling, would have deserved greater attention and consideration. We will continue on our own path, with our head held high.”