Angelo Citracca is preparing a big 2016 season. His Southeast team had a solid 2015 season which was a good stepping stone for next year.

“The overall balance is positive,” he tells Spaziociclismo. “We won several races around the world. In the end we won a lot. In addition, we won the Coppa Italia and for us it is very important. " 

Among the good performances of the season, the team manager points to "Manuel Belletti who was unlucky in the second half of the season, and Jakub Mareczko who is a young man who needs more experience." 

Matteo Busato gave important signals while other riders were "somewhat below expectations thanks to the lack of a great performance.” In what Citracca called "a transitional year ", there was the possibility to broaden the horizons of the team, with the main sponsor Southeast being very attentive to Eastern markets. 

"These are the new frontiers of the economy,” he explained. “It is difficult to find money in cycling but at the same time the resources are there. We hope that they want to invest a bit more. They give us the opportunity to survive but not to grow.” 

 
For 2016, the team has confirmed the return of former managerLuca Scinto and they are still sorting out " some details" regarding Mirko Rossato. Meanwhile, the team has been active on the transfer market.

"We signed [Daniel] Martinez who is a very strong guy,” he said. “During this year, the first year among the professionals, he has done well in many stage races. Even Cristian Rodriguez is a strong rider. We lacked strong climbers who will be important for the Giro.” 

The team has confirmed that Belletti, Andrea Fedi, Mareczko, Busato, Eugert Zhupa, Liam Bertazzo, Mirko Tedeschi will stay and there are more riders yet to be revealed. The team is in negotiations with Alessandro Ballan and Filippo Pozzato and yesterday there was an important meeting with the latter. With their eventual arrival, the team would hope "to do well in some classics", but the team is optimistic regarding the riders they already have. 

"I think that Mareczko will win ten races around the world next year and also in the Giro,” Citracca said. “You expect a nice confirmation from Belletti and even Fedi who had an unlucky year but finished very well.”

Meanwhile, Team Southeast has not yet finished the season as they will start the Tour of Taihu Lake in China on Saturday.