The ancient Italian cycling Monuments, the Milano-Torino. The Autumn Monument, Il Lombardia. Both of them organized by RCS Sport. These the next two races of the team, the 5th and the 7th of October. Damiano Cunego, 3 times winner of the Il Lombardia and in top20 in all the editions of the MIlano-Torino rode with the #OrangeBlue jersey, will lead the NIPPO Vini Fantini team with his high experience and knowledge of the two races.
It’s Autumn Monuments time, with the double event organized by RCS Sport. This Thursday 5th of October the team will ride the Milano-Torino, the ancient Monument race of the world. On Saturday 7th of October the Autumn Monument, Il Lombardia, the last Italian race of the World Tour calendar. The NIPPO Vini Fantini team will start the race with Damiano Cunego, the only rider in activity to win the Il Lombardia 3 times, with a strong knowledge of the road.
MILANO-TORINO.
The 5th of October the first of the 2 races. The team will ride it thanks to the Wild Card of RCS Sport. 186 km to race, but the competition among top riders will start after 162 km of races at the first climb of Superga. Among #OrangeBlue riders the best of the last two edition has been Damiano Cunego, always in the top 20 on the finish line and final 6th in 2015. With him in this edition also Ivan Santaromita as experienced climber together with Alessandro Bisolti. In a very good condition also Marco Canola. To complete the roster the experience of Pierpaolo De Negri and the young talents Nicola Bagioli, Giacomo Berlato and Marino Kobayashi.
The full line-up:
Damiano Cunego, Ivan Santaromita, Marco Canola, Alessandro Bisolti, Pierpaolo De Negri, Marino Kobayashi, Giacomo Berlato, Nicola Bagioli.
IL LOMBARDIA.
257 km of race, with official start in Bergamo and finish line in Como with the lake as background of the finish-line for the riders that will be able to complete this strong road with 4.000 meters of difference in altitude, divided in 6 climbs. The most famous and strongest are the Madonna del Ghisallo and the Muro di Sormano, that with the finish-line in Como will be very important. Among the #OrangeBlue starting the race there is Damiano Cunego, the only rider in activity to win 3 editions. 3 edition as Gino Bartali and Costante Girardengo and few other big champions. Damiano Cunego with his experience will be the leader of the team in this great monument. Ivan Santaromita and Alessandro Bisolti the expert climbers with him, together with Marco Canola and 3 young Italian talents as Iuri Filosi, Nicola Bagioli and Giacomo Berlato, supported by the Japanese young talent Marino Kobayashi at his first experience in this great competition.
The complete line-up:
Damiano Cunego, Ivan Santaromita, Marco Canola, Alessandro Bisolti, Iuri Filosi, Marino Kobayashi, Giacomo Berlato, Nicola Bagioli.
THE DECLARATIONS.
The #OrangeBlue leader Damiano Cunego comments with this words the road of the 111th edition of “Il Lombardia: “It is always fantastic be in this race, that I won 3 times. Not many riders have the honor to win it all this trimes, because is very difficult to win with also one single edition. It is very hard, but the 2018 road is my favorite, with the finish-line in Como. Madonna del Ghisallo climb and Muro di Sormano climb will be the most important part of the race where we will understand who will not win the race, but then 50km will miss to the arrival, so the winner will be probably most clear after Civiglio and San Fermo.”
On the team car Mario Manzoni, the Sports Director: “The team is preparing these two important and strong races. In both races our experienced leader will be Damiano Cunego, that will help all his teammates to manage the energies, in particular way in the Lombardia. Ivan Santaromita and Alessandro Bisolti are the other experienced climbers, Marco Canola could use his good condition to keep strong. De Negri and Filosi will race only one of the two races to be ready to give all their energies for the team. With them the young talents Nicola Bagioli, Giacomo Berlato and Marino Kobayashi.”