Fabio Duarte to lead the Escarabajos at the Corsa Rosa
After the final test at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Team Colombia’s technical staff selected the nine-man line-up that will take the start of the 97th Giro d’Italia in Belfast (Northern Ireland) on Friday May 9th.
The nine riders, who will wear dossard numbers from 71 to 79, will be guided from the team cars by Sports Directors Valerio Tebaldi, Oscar Pellicioli and Oliverio Rincon.
Six out of nine riders in Team Colombia’s line-up already took part to the team’s Giro debut 12 months ago: Miguel Angel Rubiano and two GT debutants – Jeffry Romero and Rodolfo Torres – will be the novelties. The latter’s spot in the Corsa Rosa’s line-up was confirmed after x-rays on his left wrist after a heavy crash at Liege-Bastogne-Liege did not reveal any serious consequence.
Leader of the Colombian team will be Fabio Duarte, whose strong display at the recent Giro del Trentino resulted in an overall fourth place, less than a second away of the third podium spot. After finishing 5th on the Col du Galibier and 2nd in Tre Cime di Lavaredo snowstorm in 2013, Duarte will be looking to finally clinch a Giro d’Italia stage win this time out.
With a Giro d’Italia stage win already in his palmares, Miguel Angel Rubiano will bring the Colombian National Champion’s jersey back in the Giro peloton. Jarlinson Pantano and Robinson Chalapud are set to make their return to the Corsa Rosa after several strong breakaway showings last term, while Carlos Julian Quintero is determined to leave a mark on the race he was forced to leave in advance due to a tendinitis 12 months ago.
For sprint finishes, Team Colombia will rely on experienced Leonardo Duque, a Grand Tour veteran with 11 participations under his belt, and talented two-time Point Race World Champion Edwin Avila, now expected to make a significant quality leap out of the velodromes.
“Compared to last year, we have one more year and a Giro of experience, and that will make some real difference” – General Manager Claudio Corti explained. “Even in the setup, the riders clearly were much more aware of what is in store for them, and that’s why I believe we will get to the Giro in a much better condition than last year, with every chance to improve the good showing of last year. After some weeks of worry and tension, we are finally receiving the first UK Visas, and we hope the issue will be completely solved in time to leave to Belfast.”
“Our main goal – Corti said – will be taking the stage win we got just close to last year, possibly even more than one. In order to do that, we will race on the attack, particularly in the toughest mountain stages – that’s what everybody expects from an all-Colombian team, after all. We will focus on one day and one stage at the time, and if that approach will bring one of our riders up in the standings, we won’t definitely back down. Our main priority though will be making an impact on this race, no matter what.”
Giro d’Italia (May 9th – June 1st)
Line-up: Edwin Avila, Robinson Chalapud, Fabio Duarte, Leonardo Duque, Jarlinson Pantano, Carlos Julian Quintero, Jeffry Romero, Miguel Angel Rubiano, Rodolfo Torres
Sports Directors: Valerio Tebaldi, Oscar Pellicioli, Oliverio Rincon
