Our team is ready to tackle the first Grand Tour of the season, which runs between 8-31 May, and takes the peloton from Bulgaria to Rome, which hosts the finale for the fourth year in a row.
The 109th edition of the Corsa Rosa takes in 50 classified climbs, 49 000 vertical meters and seven summit finishes, including the Blockhaus, Cari, and Piancavallo. The sprinters will also get their opportunities, two of which are set to come on the first and the last weekend of the race, while the time trial specialists will have their chance on the tenth stage, when a flat 42km ITT promises to bring some big changes to the general classification.
Soudal Quick-Step, who will sport a special vintage cream kit commemorating 150 years of Castelli, travelled to Bulgaria this week with a team capable of fighting on all terrains, an eight-man squad motivated to continue the Wolfpack’s tradition of racking up stage victories at the Corsa Rosa. One of the best sprinters in the world, Paul Magnier is set to start his second Grand Tour, motivated to show his speed in the bunch sprints, while Filippo Zana - winner of the Giro di Sardegna this season - hopes to be a protagonist on the climbs and confirm the strong first months he’s had in the Soudal Quick-Step jersey.
Following a rock-solid Classics campaign, which culminated with a third place in Paris-Roubaix, Jasper Stuyven will join the team in Nessebar for his 13th Grand Tour start. Rounding out our roster for the Giro d’Italia will be Ayco Bastiaens, Gianmarco Garofoli, Grand Tour debutant Andrea Raccagni, Fabio Van den Bossche, and Dries Van Gestel.
The Giro is a race we love and where we have tasted success numerous times, in the form of stage wins, distinctive jerseys or solid results in the GC.
“It’s one of the best, hardest, and most unpredictable races of the season, but the team we have for the next three weeks and the ambition the riders are carrying to the start make us confident we can have an impact on the Giro. Paul returns after a strong debut last year, aiming to fight for a stage win, and he’ll be supported by an experienced lead-out train capable of guiding him through the hectic finales”, said Davide Bramati.
Soudal Quick-Step’s experienced sports director, who as a rider had 12 Giro d’Italia participations, continued: “Jasper comes here after an impressive Classics campaign and can too be in the mix for some nice results, while Filippo will try to do a good general classification. It’s a tough parcours and things can change from one day to another, so he will take it stage by stage and together we’ll see how things go. If you look over our squad, you’ll see many riders who can be there, at the end of the stage or in a breakaway, something that gives us confidence. There’s a lot of enthusiasm in the team and we can’t wait to get things started.”
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
