Larciano await an ambitious EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team
43ª GP Industria & Artigianato
Larciano-Larciano (200 km)
Third competitive commitment for the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team on Italian soil in just four days. After the debut in the Trofeo Laigueglia and the day after facing the debut in a WorldTour category race in the Strade Bianche, the professional structure of the Contador Foundation travels to Larciano to take part in its traditional Gran Premio Industria & Artigianato.
In the Tuscan race, which returns to the road after its forced postponement last year as a result of the pandemic, will compete the Italians Manuel Belletti, Alessandro Fancellu, Lorenzo Fortunato and Edward Ravasi, the British Mark Christian and the Spaniard Alejandro Ropero. Italian Samuele Rivi finally completes the team in place of Francesco Gavazzi, who is recovering from his crash in the Trofeo Laigueglia.
A versatile ‘seven’ to manage the different race situations that can occur on a nervous course that is divided into two parts: a first, more favourable one in which the riders have to complete four laps of a 22.3 kilometre circuit and a second, decisive one, in which the riders face four laps of a 27.5 kilometre circuit that includes the climb to Fornello and San Baronto. From its summit to the finish line there are only six kilometres to go.
Gavazzi has been fifth (2016), seventh (2017) and ninth (2018) in a race he knows well: “The race has two distinct parts. The first is very easy, practically flat, and the second is the Fornello circuit. It’s a tough and narrow climb, so it’s important to always be in the first positions. After the most demanding three kilometres, there is no descent as such, but a ride through the hills of San Baronto. This is a key section of the race, especially in the final two laps, which every year are very selective. The climb is fast, technical and not far from the finish. If you get 10 seconds on the GPM, you can make it. It’s sure to be very tough, and there will be riders in very good physical condition and with great prestige in front of us. We hope to be among them”.
Alejandro Ropero, for his part, faces his second day of competition in this 2021: “I would have liked to have been able to make my debut earlier, as planned, but that’s the way things have turned out and that’s the way they are. I’m happy to be racing in these races on the Italian tour. I have a good feeling. The group has worked really well in the last training camp and I think we are going to face the Italian calendar with a lot of strength. They are races that can adapt well to my characteristics and in which the team can be at the front. In Laigueglia I didn’t start as I would have liked, I couldn’t meet the expectations I had and this makes me look forward to Larciano even more”.
