#OrangeBlue are ready for the seasonal debut in Volta a la Comunitat Valencia. Marco Canola, after his great end of season in 2017, winning the 2 last races, will try to start very well. 3 debuts with the #OrangeBlue jersey for Simone Ponzi, Marco Tizza and the Spanish rider Joan Bou. A well balanced line-up with Hideto Nakane and Ivan Santaromita as climbers and Nicola Bagioli to complete the roster, for the race that will have in the start-list 11 World Tour teams, many Professional teams and the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini as the only Italian team.
Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana – The #OrangeBlue seasonal debut.
Just finished the strong training camp with the warm temperature of Calpe, the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini team is ready for the great seasonal debut. The #OrangeBlue have been involved in a competition of high level: the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The race has on his start-kist 11 World Tour teams, all the Professional Spanish teams, and many other high level Professional teams as the Cofidis, Direct Energy and many others. As the only Italian team invited, the NIPPO Vini Fantini Europa Ovini team will have a competitive and well balanced roster.
7 RIDERS, 3 SEASONAL DEBUTS.
7 #OrangeBlue riders have been selected by Mario Manzoni and Valerio Tebaldi at the end of the training camp. The leader and captain of the team Marco Canola and winner of the last 2 races that he made in 2017 will be yet ready to battle. His goal will be to start as well as possibile also in 2018. La Volta a la Comunitat Valencia will be the opportunity of debut with the #OrangeBlue jersey also for 3 riders.
Simone Ponzi will be back in race with an Italian team and will be an important support both for the leader and also for the youngest rider of the team. For Joan Bou will be the official debut among Pros. His debut will be in his country the Spain. Important debut in the Professional level also for the Italian rider Marco Tizza. For the 4th stage will be important the climbers, such as Hideto Nakane and Ivan Santaromita, while during all the stage will be important the team work of Nicola Bagioli, the young Italian rider at his second season among PROs.
THE DECLARATION.
On the team cars the Sports Directors Mario Manzoni expects good performances from his riders, especially in single stages: “After many weeks of trainings is good to have now the possibility to have a comparison on our condition against other competitors. We will battle with high level teams, with big names cycling so it will be a very good test for us. The Valenciana has every kind of road, from mixed stages, to climbs up to Time-Trial. For sure our leader in the first and last stages will be Marco Canola, with Marco Tizza and Nicola Bagioli that could also have their chance. For the climb stage Hideto Nakane and Ivan Santaromita will be our leaders, while Joan Bou will debut among PROs, he his very young so he must follow in race most experienced riders, such as Simone Ponzi that could be helpful both for him and for leaders.”
THE RACE.
La Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana will take place in Spain. Among previous winners big riders such as Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde. The edition of the 2018 will take place in Valencia region and will be composed by 5 stages, from 31st of January up to the 4th of February. If in the first 2 stages a group arrival is expected in the third stage the team time trial will start to put some gaps in the general ranking. The fourth stage will probably decide the final leader as climber stage, while the last stage is again for fast riders.
The complete line-up:
Marco Canola, Simone Ponzi, Hideto Nakane, Ivan Santaromita, Marco Tizza, Nicola Bagioli, Joan Bou.
Sports Directors: Mario Manzoni, Valerio Tebaldi.