11 Sep 2023

Slovakia: five fast days and the aim to finish off good results

Okolo Slovenska (2.1)

13 al 17 de septiembre

Stage 1: Košice – Košice (172.7km)
Stage 2: Prešov – Poprad (143.9km)
Stage 3: Ružomberok – Martin (171.6km)
Stage 4: Prievidza – Nitra (149km)
Stage 5: Hlohovec – Púchov (183.5km)

A string of top places in the 2022 edition of the Tour of Slovakia. That is the best letter of introduction for EOLO KOMETA, which will be competing in a new edition of Okolo Slovenska with five stages starting on Wednesday.

Hilly profiles that include a large number of climbs and nervous finishes. This is Slovakia Tour, in which the fast riders will be the main protagonists. That is why Simone Bevilacqua and Javi Serrano will be on the start line, the fast men who are looking to compete in the sprint finishes with the help of a powerful team captained by Mirco Maestri, who has already announced his renewal with the team until 2025. He will be joined by Davide Bais, Erik Fetter, Andrea Pietrobon and Samuele Rivi.

If anything could happen, the third day, with a final climb just 12 kilometres from the finish, looks set to break the peloton on its ramps. There will be a fight till the end, as the fifth and decisive stage, in addition to maintaining the leg-breaking profile, will be the longest stage over 180 kilometres.

“Last year we did a great job in the race”, explains Biagio Conte, sports director of EOLO KOMETA in Okolo Slovenska. Not in vain, three top-3s with Lonardi and Fortunato were added to another two top-10s with Bais and Sevilla. “We raced very well and I am sure we will continue with that attitude which is what we are showing in the last races. We have very fit riders like Maestri or Rivi to fight for the overall; while Serrano and Bevilacqua will fight for the mass finishes”.

Faced with the technical and complicated circuit, the objective will be to save the riders in the hope that they can be competitive in the finals: “We will try to get a good result, a victory and take advantage of the good form of our riders. Fighting for the overall in a race that is not hard will force us to be present on all five days”.