Dan Martin and Julian Alaphilippe are set to lead the Quick Step Floors team at Thursday’s Milano-Torino, the oldest of the Italian classic races and one of the oldest races in the world.
The main focal point of the 186-kilometre race will be Superga, the hill which overlooks Torino. The riders will tackle the climb for the first time with 24 kilometres remaining. The climb which averages 9.1% over 4.9 kilometres, should see the peloton thinning out before they head back to Torino. The riders will then face the second and final ascent of the iconic hill, with five kilometres to go.
Ten days after sparking life into the Bergen World Championships with a big attack that brought him very close to victory, Alaphilippe returns to action in what will be his Milano-Torino debut, a race which teammate Daniel Martin will ride for the first time since 2013, when he placed 11th. Martin also rode well in Bergen, finishing in the front group.
The team will also include Gianluca Brambilla, Laurens De Plus, Dries Devenyns, Ronde van Vlaanderen champion Philippe Gilbert, Giro d’Italia maglia bianca Bob Jungels and Davide Martinelli.
