UAE Team Emirates’ line-up for the Tour Down Under

UAE Team Emirates will kick off their second season in Australia, participating in the Santos Tour Down Under, a World Tour circuit race scheduled from January 16th to the 21st.
A criterium race called the People’s Choice Classic (50.6 km on January 14th) will serve as an interesting appetizer for sprinters before the Tour Down Under, which will take place over 6 stages: 4 fractions will be suited to the speed wheelers, while the 4th stage (Norwood-Uraidla, 128 km) and stage 5 (McLaren Vale-Willunga Hill, 151.5 km) will feature uphill arrivals that will most likely determine the outline of the general classification.

Sports Director Philippe Mauduit (France) will be riding in the Emirati team car for the first time as he leads the following 7 riders:
– Matteo Bono (Italy)
– Simone Consonni (Italy)
– Rui Costa (Portugal)
– Roberto Ferrari (Italy)
– Marco Marcato (Italy)
– Manuele Mori (Italy)
– Diego Ulissi (Italy)

Rui Costa: “For the first time in my career I’ll be participating in the Tour Down Under. I want to get to know this race, but I’m well aware that I will end up next to riders who are already in great shape, especially the Australians.
For me this will be the beginning of a long season; it will be interesting to see the first results of our winter workouts, hopefully we will have a good pedalling rhythm by then.”

Diego Ulissi: “As has often happened in the past, the 2018 season will also start for me in Australia, in a race where I have always encountered perfect conditions for the first competitive rides.
The competition is going to be very high calibre; the two stages with climbing arrivals will be coveted by many and will serve as a good testing ground.”