After the official start in Vuelta de San Juan in Argentina, with 2 placements and 1 podium reached by the team, this Sunday 5th of February in Donoratico (Tuscany), will take place the official Italian debut for the team. The race in 2016 has been won by an #OrangeBlue jersey, with Grega Bole. In 2017 team is looking for another success, with many new riders at their first official race with the team.
The NIPPO Vini Fantini team is back from Argentina and is yet ready for the official Italian debut of the 2017 season. All the team is highly motivated for that race, because 2016 edition has been won by #OrangeBlue and mostly of all because many #OrangeBlue riders are at their official debut with the team.
5 on 8 riders will be at their first race with the team, among them Marco Canola, strongly motivated to do great things and 2 experts riders as Kohei Uchima and Alan Marangoni. Same motivation for the Neo-PROs Nicola Bagioli and Marino Kobayashi at their official debut after the stage of 2016.
To lead the team will be the Sports Director Mario Manzoni: “This race will be our official debut in Italy and we have great expectations, with a competitive team. Eduard Grosu is strongly motivated and the same it is for Marco Canola. We have also important alternatives to do the race with De Negri, Filosi, Kobayashi and Bagioli. In group will be very important the leadership of Uchima and Marangoni to “read” the moments of the race. We have been working hard, and the race will be the first moment to test what we are doing in comparison with our competitors.”
Marco Canola will be one of the leaders in Donoratico: “I’ve been training very well in these months, during the training camps and then in Spain. Unfortunately I had the flue at the begin of this week, but my condition is improving now and these Sunday we will see if we are yet ready to battle for the victory."
With a possibile sprint arrival attentions also to Eduard Grosu, that closed the 2016 season with a victory and that would like to open the 2017 in the same way: “I know that 2017 must be the year of my upgrade if I want to be an important rider. I closed my 2016 season in November with a victory and I’ve been working hard this winter to arrive to this race ready.”
GP Costa degli Etruschi will be the official debut with the NIPPO Vini Fantini team for to experienced leaders as Kohei Uchima and Alan Marangoni.
Highly motivated the Japanese rider: “A bad fall during the training on Monday stopped me for a while, but now I’m fine and ready for my debut with NIPPO Vini Fantini team. I know that I can be helpful to drive during the race the youngest riders of the team.”
Same motivation for Alan Marangoni: “I have some year of experience also in World Tour teams, but this year for me is a special one. Here I feel immediately in a family, and I’m strongly motivated. This first race for me will be important first of all for to make km of race and to help my teammates.”
The #OrangeBlue line-up starting this Sunday 5th of February in Donoratico.
Marco Canola, Eduard Grosu, Pierpaolo De Negri, Marino Kobayashi, Kohei Uchima, Iuri Filosi, Alan Marangoni, Nicola Bagioli.
Sports Director: Mario Manzoni.