The Vuelta Andalucia Ruta del Sol will be the official debut of many top riders, such as Froome and Landa. Also the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini will be at the official start of this important Spanish competition, as the only Italian team in the race. Eduard Grosu will be the leader for the sprint arrivals, Kohei Uchima the experienced Japanese rider and many young talents of the team ready to compete in a race of very high level.
Vuelta Andalucia – Ruta del Sol
Will start next Wednesday the 14th of February the Ruta del Sol, the important Spanish competition that will be the official debut of many top riders such as Froome and Landa. The only Italian team to start this important race will be the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini team.
THE RACE AND THE #ORANGEBLUE LINE-UP.
7 World Tour team, many Professional teams of very good level with 5 stages to race from 14th to 18th of February in Andalucia. Two stages with a possibile arrival for sprinters, but the first one with a difficult climb in the middle. Two stages for climbers and the last one a time trial. The #OrangeBlue line-up will give space to the young talents of the team, giving them the chance to grow up in a very competitive race, making important experience. The young riders of the team have demonstrated in this begin of season to deserve the chances with a week-end with two important placements of two young Italian riders as Nicola Bagioli and Damiano Cima.
In the Spanish race the line-up will be leaded by Eduard Grosu, the sprinter of the team also Time Trial National Champion. The Rumanian rider reached a second place in the first stage of Tour La Provence with a good sprint. Kohei Uchima and Sho Hatsuyama will be the two Japanese riders with experience, while the young riders in race will be the highest number, with 4 neo-pro athletes. Damiano Cima and Filippo Zaccanti the two young Italian riders, Marino Kobayashi the Japanese talent and Joan Bou the Spanish neo-pro.
THE DECLARATION.
Stefano Garzelli will be the additional Sports Director, together with Valerio Tebaldi, on the team car for this important race of the season: “The Vuelta Andalucia is a very important race of this first part of the season.” explains Stefano Garzelli “The starting race of Froome and Landa, with competitive riders such as the Italian Moser coming from a great victory in Laigueglia. We will have Eduard Grosu for the sprints, but first of all we want to see important signals from our youngest rider. It will be a strong and important test for them to see if they are ready to race well into an high level competition. In the first stage we have to pay attention to the central climb to not miss the chance of a sprint in the final, while in the final time trial the rural road is the main danger.”
BROADCAST.
The race will be broadcasted live by Eurosport, each day starting from 3.30 p.m. In Japan the race will be broadcasted on J-Sport.