MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung has entered its final week of racing this season and in Italy there are 3 one day events on the cards. The events are: Coppa Sabatini on Thursday, Giro dell Emilia on Saturday and Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli on Sunday. 

With othe r team running a triple program this weekend (Abu Dhabi Tour & Paris-Tours), they will use 8 riders to line up over the 3 Italian one day events. Kristian Sbaragli will lead the way and he should be a real contender at both Sabatini and Beghelli. All 3 of the events provide numerous opportunities for the climbers to take their chance though and so with this in my mind, Sbaragli will only be one of the cards up he sleeve this weekend.

Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Louis Meintjes, Merhawi Kudus, Serge Pauwels, Steve Cummings, Natnael Berhane and Jaco Venter are all capable of riding to victory at any one of these traditional Italian classics. Venter will only race Sabatini, thereafter he heads off to race in Paris-Tours. The season has been a long but successful one and the riders will be hoping to end things off on a high note.

"These 3 races are a really nice way to end off the season. It has been a long season but we still have 3 more opportunities to get the Qhubeka message out there. Our team will definitely be looking to make the most of these opportunities," Meintjes said.

"This is the last block of Italian races," sports director Alex Sans Vega said. "It is nice that this group of guys can end the season here because most of them are living in Lucca so it's kind of like racing at home for them. We have a roster whereby some riders will be more suited to one of the races than another. Clearly tomorrow and Sunday will be another opportunity for Kristian and Saturday is for the climbers. We have Serge, Louis, Merhawi or Natnael who could deliver a top result on Saturday. Closing the season with a good result would be ideal after successful season already."