Bahrain Merida have announced a strong line-up for the Santos Tour Down Under which starts in Port Adelaide, South Australia on 16 January and covers 860 kilometres in six days.
“We have a really strong lineup, it’s more of a team for GC, so the main focus will be on GC,” said Bahrain Merida Directeur Sportif Tristan Hoffman.
“Domenico (Pozzovivo) and Izagirre brothers will share the leadership. Ion has been recovering well after Tour de France. Gorka finished 8th in GC in 2015. Domenico joined both of the training camps and showed his great personality. I look forward to seeing him again on the road. We hope all 3 riders finish at top 10.”
“I’m just working to be in a good shape at the start of TDU 2018,” said Pozzovivo. “My objective will be to reach the top 10 in GC, doing some good performance in the two hilly stages (4th and 5th). I think we have a very good roster at the start of this race and for me it’s always a pleasure to start the season in South Australia because of the good weather, the beautiful roads to race and a very competent public following every stage.”
Ion Izagirre is also looking forward to competing in Australia. “First of all my main goal is recover the feeling that I had before the crash, take confidence back in the peloton with stress in downhill. I already done 2 times this race and I know which kind of stages are there. It’s a good race to start the season, it’s summer, short stages, not too much transfers. We go with Pozzovivo and my brother, which is very important to me. So in my opinion, we are going to have a very strong team there.”
Meanwhile, after a successful operation, Ramūnas Navardauskas will also be in the lineup and is looking forward to making his comeback.
“For me, 2018 is very important as my comeback from last year’s problems,” said Navardauskas. “So Tour Down Under is super important for me. I know I will not be at my best, but I can’t wait to see where my form is at. I am looking forward to helping my teammates. I miss to ride Merida bike in a race with Bahrain-Merida jersey!”
BAHRAIN MERIDA Team’s lineup for Tour Down Under:
Manuele Boaro
Valerio Agnoli
Yukiya Arashiro,
Ramūnas Navardauskas
Ion Izagirre
Gorka Izagirre
Domenico Pozzovivo.
