CYCLING

UAE Abu Dhabi: first appointment in Australia

By UAE Abu Dhabi

Australia will host the debut of the team UAE Abu Dhabi, a memorable event for the world cycling.

Colnago bikes of the team managed by Carlo Saronni will race for the first time on 15th January on the roads of Adelaide in the criterium People’s Choice Classic and two days later they’ll debut in a World Tour race in Santos Tour Down Under (17-22 January).

Team UAE Abu Dhabi set ambitious goals for the Australian race, since the lineup will be competitive in all the six stages.

Kump and Swift will battle against the fastest wheels, Ulissi will be a stage fighter and will try to be in the top part of the general classification relying on the support of Mori and of the duo Laengen-Marcato (they’ll race for the first time in the team).

As for the past year, Meintjes’s season will start in Australia.

“I’m happy to go again to Australia, where I’ll find the necessary conditions for the seasonal debut, as for the past years - Ulissi explained – The courses are suitable for my characteristics, I’ll try to achieve important results and I’ll work also in order to improve my shape.

In the 2017 edition, there won’t be any more the stage with arrival in Stirling, where I obtained one success and one second place: it’s a pity, because it would have been for sure a good opportunity, however in Australia I’ll have other chances to try to hit the target and to give immediately satisfaction to the UAE Abu Dhabi team”.

Ben Swift said: “I’m really excited to be heading back to Santos Tour Down Under. I have tasted success there before and it is always a nice place to start the season.

It’s even more special for me in 2017 as it marks the start of my new adventure with UAE Abu Dhabi.
I’m looking forward to pulling on my new jersey and getting started”.

Some facts and figures about the riders who’ll be directed by sports director Marco Marzano: Swift won two stages in the Tour Down Under (both in the 2011 edition, in Adelaide and Mannum) and he was 3rd in the final general classification in 2011; one stage victory for Ulissi in Stirling in the 2014 edition, the same year he finished 3rd in the general classification.

Good Australian feeling for Kump too, who was 4th in the opening stage of the 2016 edition.

Meintjes will participate in the Tour Down Under for the 2nd time in his career, Mori have been raced 5 editions so far, while Laengen and Marcato will debut in the race.

UAE Abu Dhabi’s line up:
- LAENGEN Vegard Stake
- KUMP Marko
- MARCATO Marco
- MEINTJES Louis
- MORI Manuele
- SWIFT Ben
- ULISSI Diego

Staff: physician Dr De Grandi, masseurs Mugnaini and Redaelli, mechanics Bacchion and Walden.

The criterium People’s Choice Classic will be raced on 2,3 km course which will be covered 22 times (total distance of 50,6 km).

These are the details of the stages of the Santos Tour Down Under:
- 17 January, 1st stage, Unley-Lyndoch, 145 km, sprinters’ stage
- 18 January, 2nd stage, Stirling-Paracombe, 148,5 km, stage for sprinters with endurance
- 19 January, 3rd stage, Glenelg-Victor Harbor, 144 km, hilly final part of the course
- 20 January, 4th stage, Norwood-Campbelltown, 149,5 km, sprinters’ stage
- 21 January, 5th stage, McLaren Vale-Willunga Hill, 151,5 km, queen stage
- 22 January, 6th stage, Adelaide-Adelaide, 90 km, sprinters’ stage

The new website of the team will be soon available, meanwhile follow the team on the social network:
- Twitter: @UAE_AbuDhabi
- Facebook: UAE Abu Dhabi
- Instagram: team_uae_abudhabi



Image credit: unsplash.com