The third edition of the Dubai Tour will be the seasonal debut for many riders from LAMPRE-MERIDA.

The Arab competition will be the first appointments in 2016 for two top riders of the blue-fuchsia-green roster, namely Rui Costa and Sacha Modolo: the Italian sprinter will have the opportunity to check his speed on suitable courses while the Florence 2013 world champion will test his form after the winter break.

In LAMPRE-MERIDA's selection there will be four more riders who will race for the first time in this season: Matteo Bono will begin his eleventh year in the team; Valerio Conti and Chun Kai Feng will try to start their season by racing with an offensive attitude and trying to join breakaways; Petilli will debut in blue-fuchsia-green colors.

Polanc and Ferrari have already raced in 2016, having taken part in the Tour de San Luis, so their shape should be good and could allow them to deliver interesting performances.

Rui Costa is happy that he'll soon start the 2016 season: "I began the season here in Dubai in 2014 too when I made my debut in the rainbow jersey. This race gives me the opportunity to test my form at an agonistic pace. I'll be happy if my team mates need my contribution, I'm ready to support them.

"The good weahter conditions, even tough not extreme, are perfect for starting a year full of important appointments.

"I have worked well during the winter season, the mild climate has helped me to carry out the planned work. I'm curious to evaluate the good sensations that I felt during training. The Dubai tour is a good opportunity to start to feel the atmosphere of competition and I will be in the UAE with the aim of finding a good race pace.

"Many of the riders in our team's selection are at their first appearance in a competition in 2016, so it will be interesting to check how they worked during the winter break," sports director Marco Marzano said. "We aim to battle for a stage victory and to try to be in the first part of the overall classification, being aware that the time bonuses will be fundamental for being in the top positions".