NTT Pro Cycling to start in Strade Bianche with three leaders
Jul 31 2020 04:48 am CET
NTT Pro Cycling logo
NTT Pro Cycling is fielding a strong roster for the first appointment of the restart of the WorldTour calendar: Strade Bianche.
After finishing its training camp in Lucca, Italy, the South African team is ready to face the race of the white roads. The 2020 edition of Strade Bianche will take place over a 184-kilometre route that features 60 kilometres of white gravel roads, and that will have the additional challenge of the heat of the Tuscan Summer.
Michael Gogl, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Michael Valgren will lead the roster on the return of the WorldTour after the pause forced by the Covid-19 pandemic. "Strade is a tricky race as everyone knows," said Gogl. "This year it's even more special. Nobody really knows where they are standing. The parcours is super technical and nobody is used to riding in the peloton at the moment.
"Then the heat is a big factor as well. I think we will see a crazy race with a lot of drama. A key part of the race will be avoiding as much of the chaos as possible and arrive as fresh as possible to the finale. We have a strong team here and we hope to make a great result at the first World Tour race back after the break."
The NTT Pro Cycling's roster will also include neo-pro Matteo Sobrero, who will ride his first race in the WorldTour level after winning the U23 version of Strade Bianche di Romagna in 2019. "I may have won Strade Bianche di Romagna u23 but Saturday will be like a whole different world," the Italian explained.
"All I can say is I love this kind of racing on the gravel but to restart the season here, on the white roads at World Tour level, is going to be really hard. Also, it is really warm and this can make a big difference in the race. Anyway, I’m just really happy to finally be back racing and I’m ready to give everything to help the team and I hope to bring home some valuable experience from this race."
NTT Pro Cycling's line-up for Strade Bianche (August 1):
Michael Gogl
Michael Valgren
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Roman Kreuziger
Samuele Battistella
Rasmus Tiller
Matteo Sobrero
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEEDS