The experienced Italian rider Oscar Gatto will join the ranks of Tinkoff Team next season. His profile, abilities and his fondness of the cobbled races will make him a candidate for the squads that will support World Champion, Peter Sagan, in the Classics.
 
Gatto's signing also finalizes the roster for the next season and the complete Tinkoff Team squad will now gather in Poreč, Croatia next week where the first, all-important team meeting will take place, laying the foundations for next year.      
 
Gatto commented on signing for Tinkoff Team in 2016: "It is, undoubtedly, a great satisfaction to join the ranks of one of the world's top teams. Just by itself, this fact will motivate me to give my absolute best and when the opportunity was given to me, I couldn't refuse it. This move will also drive me to become a better rider because when you are in one of the best teams with some of the best riders in the world, you can only improve."
 
"In such a team, you can develop both physically and mentally and I think that aspect was at times missing from me. In my opinion, I missed some opportunities to win in the past because I wasn't confident and I wasn't feeling sure about myself. Now, being a team mate of Alberto Contador and Peter Sagan, among others, I am sure there is ample room to improve", added Gatto.
 
The accomplished Italian rider considers that one of his strengths is his final sprints in a reduced bunch and thinks the races that put the riders through tough pavé sections are the best. Winner of the 2013 Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gatto convincingly states that "there are no races like Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in the calendar".
 
According to Gatto, all victories are sweet, but if he had to choose one that stood out in his career, it would be his stage victory in the 2011 Giro d'Italia, ahead of Alberto Contador. "Crossing the line ahead of Alberto was for me a push that helped me climb one step up as a rider. It wasn't so much for the victory but for the fact that right behind me was Alberto, one of the world's best riders. He will now be my team leader, so life can have funny twists at times", concluded Gatto.
 
Steven de Jongh, Head Sport Director of Tinkoff-Saxo, stated: "I am happy to have Oscar in the Tinkoff Team squad for next season. He will bring a wealth of experience to the team and will be primarily there to support Peter in the Classics. However, I think that in smaller races, Oscar could also take a leading role and try to claim his own wins".