Giro d’Italia : Team named for first Grand Tour of the season

UAE Team Emirates have unveiled the team heading into the Giro d’Italia (8-30 May) with an exciting squad starting the race which begins from the city of Turin.

The team will count upon an experienced base of riders for the 21 stages, with an impressive 16 stage victories in total between them at the ‘Corsa Rosa’.
Leading the hopes the General Classification will be Davide Formolo while Fernando Gaviria will lead the group of sprinters.

A key reference point in the team will also be 8 time Giro stage winner Diego Ulissi who is embarking on a successful return to competition after many months on the sideline.
Team Manager Joxean Matxin Fernandez (Spa) will lead the squad alongside Sports Directors Fabio Baldato (Ita), Marco Marzano (Ita) and Manuele Mori (Ita). The team is comprised of 8 riders:

-Valerio Conti (Ita)
-Alessandro Covi (Ita)
-Joe Dombrowski (USA)
-Davide Formolo (Ita)
-Fernando Gaviria (Col)
-Sebastian Molano (Col)
-Maximiliano Richeze (Arg)
-Diego Ulissi (Ita)
Davide Formolo : “The Giro is a really special race for me. It’s where I had my first professional victory back in 2015 and it’s a race every Italian cyclist dreams of. I’m coming to the Giro from a successful altitude camp in Tenerife and I feel like the condition is good. The opportunity to lead the team is an exciting one. The race is coming very close to my home this year also that is always extra motivation.”
Joxean Matxin Fernandez (Team Manager): “We have a very balanced team with a lot of pedigree. Davide Formolo will be our man for the GC: he has been in the top-10 three times at Grand Tours and we believe he can do even better and we’re going to support him in that.
Diego Ulissi is a key rider who has 8 stage wins to his name and will have his chances to go for the win on days that suit him. Valerio Conti and Joe Dombrowski both have excellent track records at the Giro and will be key helpers but could see their own opportunities depending how the race unfolds.
We know the sprinting level will be high here and we have have block of sprinters led by Fernando Gaviria with Richeze and Molano who will be disputing the flat stages.We have a very promising talent in Alessandro Covi who will make his Grand Tour debut. It’s a very important race for the team and we will aim to be protagonists on every stage.”