For the first time Gazprom-RusVelo took part in the Giro d’Italia and it was a great success for the team.The Giro that ended last Sunday was extremely challenging as well as full of excitement and great emotions. 

The team got a fantastic victory with Alexandr Foliforov in the mountain time trial and so proved that they deserved  the honor of being invited to the race.  

"For us, the Giro d’Italia was undoubtedly a success. We reached tje top ten in several stages and pushed it hard to stay competitive throughout the whole race," Alexander Foliforov shares his emotions. It was really a lifetime experience and i will never forget the day when I brought this victory to my team in the individual time trial. It was a fantastic Giro for me, it changed my self perception - now I know I can do better. I am looking forward for the next races."

«Undoubtedly it was a very important experience," Sergey Firsanov says. "It was always my dream. And  when I got the opportunity, I felt great. I tried to be in my best shape, but still suffered some difficulties during the race. However I managed to overcome the crisis, and I can say that three weeks of very tough racing, both physically and mentally was a real challenge. I managed to get through - and I am proud of the guys who did the same trough all those stages."

Not only the climbers attracted attention to the team. Gazprom-RusVelo sprinter Ivan Savitsky also made a bang.  The young but very talented rider fought in the sprints with the top names in the world of cycling. He  finished in top ten twice 

"Certainly it was a competition of a completely different level, with the best sprinters in the world. It was the first Grand Tour in my career and I know now what it means -  to face a three-week race:  how the body acts from week to week, the importance of the recovery phase, rest and nutrition. All this was very important and essential. I wish I could have performed better, but overall I can be satisfied. It is an unforgettable experience."

"Many people ask me if we are happy with our first Tour of Italy. And the answer is yes, we are very pleased," said general manager of Gazprom-RusVelo, Renat Khamidulin. "We have reached a new level, a new stage in our development. And this is the most important aspect. We were able to demonstrate that we are strong to compete in the sprints, in the mountains and in all conditions with a high result. 

"The whole team has aimed high and reached new heights. The results obtained by our riders in the race have motivated the staff, urging them to work more and more and better to achieve other important goals. Our riders will now try to repeat this experience, and to confirm our level.

"Our team has also got a new specific weight: now we are no longer just a faceless team. We have a name, a jerseyand a precise identity. And what makes us proud is the knowledge that we have gained respect from many experts and a large number of Italian fans who are very competent. We were able to demonstrate that we can compete for every goal, every latitude and in every situation: sprints, mountains and time trials.

"But now that the Giro is over, our work does not stop. We continue to seek new goals, new objectives, with a full calendar of events on the horizon: in France, the Russian Championships and for the qualification for the Olympics, as well as prestigious races of the WorldTour like the Tour of Poland. In short, we always aim to improve."