UAE Team Emirates faces Spring Classics opening weekend mixing youth and experience
Feb 23 2018 05:16 am CET
UAE-Team Emirates logo
UAE Team Emirates is heading to the opening weekend of the Spring Classics with rosters that mix youth and experience.
For the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, UAE Team Emirates will have riders that have experience on the cobbles combined with others that are new to this type of race.
"In 2017, my first year in the professional ranks, with the worlds on the track, I only had a small taste of the Belgian races, participating in Gent-Wevelgem and the BinckBank Tour," said Filippo Ganna. "Regardless, they allowed me to breathe in the air of these particular and anticipated events loved by so many cyclists and fans.
"This year, I will have a chance to participate in more of these types of races. Already in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne I will try to get my bearings and understand the dynamics of the race, all with the mindset of learning. I can count on expert team-mates like Marcato, Bono and Swift."
For Simone Consonni, this will be his first participation in the races, but he is not new to Belgian classics as he has started in the youth Tour of Flanders as well as the elite version of the race and others like Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars Door Vlaanderen. "I’m going to arrive in Belgium with good legs and the knowledge that I’ve reached good form from the first races of 2018 in Australia and Dubai," the rider commented.
"In the last race in Dubai, I worked to support Kristoff, and I really learnt a lot. I’m going back north after gaining so much experience in 2017. In Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, I’m ready to play my cards given the race is adapted to my characteristics."
UAE Team Emirates' full line-up for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne:
– Matteo Bono
– Simone Consonni
– Filippo Ganna
– Marco Marcato
– Aleksandr Riabushenko
– Ben Swift
– Oliviero Troia
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