After the first 2 races of the week in Belgium, in the week-end other 2 important races in Omloop Mandel–Leie-Schelde Meulebeke and Schaal Sels. Unlucky with the forfait of Nicolas Marini, because of the wrist fracture. Alan Marangoni will take his place. This Friday the #OrangeBlue riders will be in race also in Austria with Damiano Cunego as leader in the very strong race Pro Ötztaler 5.500.
3 races in 3 days for a full week-end of sport, between Austria and Belgium.
AUSTRIA: Pro Ötztaler 5.500
The first race to take place will be the very strong Pro Ötztaler 5.500. The category is 1.1. but more than 5.500 meters of difference in altitude, 3 World Tour teams in the starting list and many good Professional team in competition. A strong race and to afford them the Sports Director Mario Manzoni chooses as leader Damiano Cunego.
The NIPPO Vini Fantini captain, back to the victory in July in Tour of Qinghai Lake in a very strong stage will lead the team, together with the climbers Ivan Santaromita and Alessandro Bisolti. To help their teammates Yuma Koishi, Giacomo Berlato and the Japanese trainee Hiroki Nishimura, back in #OrangeBlue after the Vuelta a Burgos of the last August when he made his debut with the team.
Mario Manzoni knows very well how is strong this race, but he his motivated and confident to made a good race: “It will be a very hard day, with 5.500 meters of difference in altitude, where Giacomo Berlto, Yuma Koishi and Hiroki Nishimura will help in the first part the 3 climbers of the team: Damiano Cunego, Ivan Santaromita and Alessandro Bisolti. Cunego will be our experienced leader, he knows how to manage this long-time effort.”
The complete line-up:
Damiano Cunego, Ivan Santaromita, Alessandro Bisolti, Yuma Koishi, Giacomo Berlato, Hiroki Nishimura.
Today at 6.00 p.m. the Top Riders press conference, with Damiano Cunego representing NIPPO Vini Fantini team.
BELGIO: Omloop Mandel-Leie-Schelde Meulebeke e Schaal Sels.
Saturday and Sunday the NIPPO Vini Fantini team will be back in saddle also in Belgium. Forfait of Nicolas Marini, involved in a group fall the 22 of August during the GP Stad Zottegem. For the young Italian sprinter a wrist fracture, he his now back in Italy to recover from the injury.
Aggregated to the teammates there is the experienced Italian rider, Alan Marangoni, very important team-worker ready to help with his experience the leaders of the team for this race, such as Marco Canola and Eduard Grosu. Pierpaolo De Negri, with his experience will be an important rider at disposal of the Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi, together with Kohei Uchima. To complete the roster 3 young riders that could try some surprise: Iuri Filosi, Nicola Bagioli and Kazushige Kuboki.
The complete line-up:
Marco Canola, Eduard Grosu, Pierpaolo De Negri, Kazushige Kuboki,
Iuri Filosi, Alan Marangoni, Nicola Bagioli, Kohei Uchima.