During a press conference hosted at the team hotel on Thursday afternoon, Sports Director Matteo Tosatto and riders Alberto Dainese, Matteo Trentin and Michael Storer talked about the team’s ambitions.
2.05.2024
Matteo Tosatto was first to speak and made no bones about the team’s objectives for their first Grand Tour: “We are here to win a stage. It is the most important race of the year for the team. Everyone worked hard and is feeling good. Alberto (Dainese) is our leader, and the team is here for him. I want the team to ride at the front, be active and show our mindset.”
For Alberto, the preparation for his third Giro didn’t go as planned. A crash in early February kept him away from racing for two months so the Italian sprinter has only 10 days of racing under his belt: “We did a great job with the team during the recovery phase. We didn’t rush things. I started racing again a month ago and went to altitude before racing Tour de Romandie last week. My shape grew nicely throughout the week, and I feel ready for the Giro.” The team will grab every opportunity for sprint finishes: “Competition is strong here at Giro, but it is the first time I am coming with a leadout and it makes a real difference. I am eyeing stage 18 finishing in Padova, my hometown. This one will be special for sure, but the road is very long until there.”
Fellow countryman Matteo Trentin and German Marius Mayrhofer will be great support for Alberto and may also play their own cards in punchy stages.
“I come to this Giro feeling good.” said Matteo. “My only win in the Giro was in Piemonte and now we are in Piemonte, so you never know what happens (laughs). I am the oldest rider in a young team, and I am motivated to share my experience in a Grand Tour and in the leadout train, as I’ve been doing my whole career.”
When it comes to the mountains, Australian Michael Storer, winner of the mountain classification of the Vuelta in 2021, will be the main man. “I am here to win a stage, not for the general classification. Giro is early in the year, and I usually do better towards the end of the season, but I am coming with good form and the preparation went smoothly.”
The Giro d’Italia starts on Saturday 4 May with a 140km punchy stage between Venaria Reale and Torino. It will finish in Rome after a total of 3’400km and 44’650m of elevation gain.