The Wolfpack is ready to take on the five-day stage race next week.
A stage finish at the Giro d’Italia on several occasions, Riccione will once again welcome the peloton for the opening day of the competition, one that will be very much to the liking of the attackers, who’ll have the chance to go for the win and the race’s first leader jersey. One day later, the “Muur di Via Belvedere”, an 800m climb averaging 11%, will spice things up in Longiano before another visit to Forli.
A tough circuit that promises to shake up the general classification awaits there, followed just twenty-four hours later by a leg-sapping stage around Fiorano Modenese. On Saturday, an 18.6km ITT will bring the 38th edition to a conclusion – the first time in five years that the race will end with a test against the clock.
Running between 21-25 March, Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali will see Soudal Quick-Step head to the start with a strong squad, consisting of former stage winners Josef Cerny and Mauro Schmid, Rémi Cavagna, James Knox, Stan Van Tricht, Tour of Oman stage victor Mauri Vansevenant, and William Junior Lecerf, who just last month came within seconds of winning the Tour du Rwanda for the Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team.
“The parcours is hard, but that isn’t a surprise. It will be interesting to see what impact will the final day time trial have on the overall standings. We have a solid and versatile squad who can go for a stage win next week, and at the same time, we are curious to see in action William, who comes from our feeder team after an impressive start to the season there. It will be a good opportunity for him to gain some experience and learn from the other riders”, said sports director Davide Bramati.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
