News | Team's roster • August 22, 2018
Welcome Covi and Pogacar
The Slovenian will ride with UAE Team Emirates starting in 2019; future deal with the young Italian
Alessandro Covi has reached an agreement with the Emirati team that will lead him to a future move to the pros. The nineteen-year-old was born in Borgomanero on 28/09/1998 and today he has won the 6th stage of the Tour de l’Avenir; in the two years he spent in the Under23 class he has shown enormous potential, which makes him one of the most interesting prospects in Italian cycling. Covi has been a UAE Team Emirates trainee since August 1, 2018, and in the 2019 season he will be riding for Team Colpack.
“I’m very happy, I feel UAE Team Emirates can be the best team for becoming a pro rider – Covi explained – I won’t join the pros in the next season, I feel it’s better to wait for one more year, during which I’ll do my best to improve my skills. Meanwhile, I’ll race as trainee in my new team in this final part of the season“.
Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar, a very talented young Slovenian cyclist who’s partecipating in the Tour de l’Avenir too, has signed a two year contract with UAE Team Emirates that will seal his 2019 debut on a World Tour team.
Born in Komenda (Slovenia) on 21/09/1998, Pogacar is already savvy enough to know how to show off his skills, combining agility on climbs with impressive power that makes him efficient on flat terrain and in sprints. The young Slovenian’s 2018 portfolio boasts Under23 National Titles in time trial and road racing, one stage and the general classification in the Grand Prix Priessnitz and 4th place in the general classification for the Tour of Slovenia, a race in which he captured the title as best young rider in 2017.
“I am honoured to be able to ride in a World Tour team and it makes me even happier to know that I am joining an ambitious formation that knows how to value their riders,” emphasized Pogacar. “I’d like to thank Saronni and all the sponsors for the faith they’ve shown in me.”
Photos:
– first picture: Covi and Saronni
– second picture: Saronni and Pogacar