Three young riders of Hopplà-Petroli Firenze, Tinkoff's Italian U23 affiliate team, join the team as stagiaires for the rest of the 2016 season. Davide Ballerini, Lorenzo Fortunato and Andrea Montagnoli will gain invaluable experience as they step up to race for one of the world's top pro cycling teams for the remainder of the 2016 season.
 
Stefano Feltrin, General Manager of Tinkoff, commented on the strengthened partnership between Tinkoff and Hopplà-Petroli Firenze:

"Our U23 affiliate team has been carrying out excellent work, laying the foundations for a future generation of Italian riders. It was only natural for us to pick this year's stagiaires from among the ranks of Hopplà-Petroli Firenze and we look forward to working together in the following months."
 
Omar Piscina, Hopplà-Petroli Firenze Team Manager, shared Feltrin's view:

"I am very happy for the opportunity Tinkoff has given our three young and talented riders. This is will certainly be a great experience that will prove useful for the rest of their careers."
 
Pino Toni, Tinkoff coach, felt confident the three young stagiaires would be up to the task:

"I worked with Ballerini, Fortunato and Montagnolli during the two-week training camp we held at the Alpen Village Hotel in Livigno, together with Hopplà-Petroli Firenze. In fact, all riders of our affiliate U23 team were eager and showed excellent strength and potential.
 
"It was difficult to narrow down our choice to just three of them, but I think we made the best decision. They will make their debut with Tinkoff at the Tour du Limousin and Tour des Fjords and it is now up to them to work hard and deliver in this important part of their career." 
 
Davide Ballerini
Born on 21 September 1994 and originating from the province of Como, Ballerini is a fast all-rounder who started his cycling career in 2010. He joined Hopplà-Petroli Firenze in 2016 after racing for Unieuro Willer in 2015 and Team Idea in 2013 and 2014. Among his achievements in the sport of cycling is a stand out victory at the 2016 edition of Firenze-Empoli, and his bronze medal in the 2012 Junior European Championship.

Lorenzo Fortunato
Coming from Bologna and born on 9 May 1996, the youngest of the three stagiaires, Fortunanto is a promising climber who has literally spent most of his life on the bike. He started at the age of 10 and joined Hopplà-Petroli Firenze in 2016 after racing for G.S. Mastromarco Chianti Sensi in 2015 and Work Service Padova in 2013 and 2014. Fortunato's palmarés includes an eighth at the 2014 Junior Worlds as well as 11th and 5th at the 2013 Junior Worlds and Europeans, respectively.

Andrea Montagnoli
Born on 27 July 1995 and coming from Arezzo, Montagnoli is a climber who excels on short, steep climbs. He started riding as a little boy at the age of six and joined Hopplà-Petroli Firenze in 2016 after racing for Ciclistica Malmantile - Romano Gainiin 2015 and 2014. Among his most recent successes, Montagnolli finished 7th at the 2016 Italian Individual Time Trial Championships.