News | Gp Costa degli Etruschi • February 3, 2017
Ulissi leader of a team made of young stars
The Italian rider will race on the hometown road
The low average age will be the main characteristic of the Team UAE’s line-up for the Gp Costa degli Etruschi (scheduled on Sunday, January the 5th).
In the seasonal debut on the European roads, in the team which will be directed by Daniele Righi there will Valerio Conti and Simone Petilli, both born in 1993, Edward Ravasi and Oliviero Troia, both born in 1994, and Filippo Ganna who was born in 1996, in addition to Diego Ulissi, Marco Marcato and Manuele Mori.
The average age is 25 years.
The race will start from San Vincenzo and it will end in Donoratico (distance 190,6 km); the key palces will be the ascent of Campiglia Marittima in the first part of the course and the two passages on the climb of Torre Segalari, three kilometers with summit at 10 km to the arrival.
Diego Ulissi will aim to be protagonist on his homeland roads, where he was 3rd in the 2016 edition of the race and 2nd in 2013: the double passage on the Torre Segalari climb will be the key moment for Ulissi, who was competitive in Australia in the seasonal debut (photo Bettini), having obtained the 5th place in the general classification of the Santos Tour Down Under.
In the Gp Costa degli Etruschi, Petilli and Conti will make their seasonal debut (Conti has recovered from a fractured wrist).
Ravasi will participate for the first time in a race as pro, after having being part of the team of the general manager Saronni as a trainee: he’ll receive the advices from Mori and Marcato and the support from other two neo-pro of the team, who are Troia and Ganna.
“Gp Costa degli Etruschi has a natural charm on me – Ulissi explained – I was born in that region and I spent many hours cycling on those roads, however I have never succeeded to win here.
In the recent years, the course of the race became more demanding, this is something good for me.
I’m satisfied for my performances in Australia, especially because the shape was good and I hope it wil lbe the same on Sunday.
It won’t be easy to achieve a top result, because in the seasonal debut in Italy there will be a bunch of riders who aim to win“.
