A historical race to measure the good moment of the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team
82nd Giro dell’Appennino
Pasturana – Genova (192,1 km)
After the success, huge success, in the Adriatica Ionica Race, turn for one of the most historical races of the European calendar. It is the turn of the Giro dell’Appennino. The race, organised by the U.S. Pontedecimo Ciclismo, always presents an interesting line-up of participants and offers an attractive and demanding route. Six consecutive victories between 1977 and 1982, with six victories in a row, are the record of such a sporting icon as Gianbattista Baronchelli.
The Italians Davide Bais, Mattia Frapporti and Luca Wackermann, already recovered of his recent crash sin the last stage of the Adriatica Ionica Race, and the Spaniards Sergio García, Arturo Grávalos, Alejandro Ropero and Diego Pablo Sevilla compose the seven that will represent the EOLO-KOMETA Cycling Team in the roads of Liguria. It is the first race of this season, beyond the recent Spanish Championships, in which the four riders of Spanish nationality share the same team.
The 2021 edition introduces some changes in its route. The fundamental one, because of its link to the race, is the absence of the Salita della Bocchetta. It is a justified absence. Work on its descent due to a landslide has prevented a cycling event from passing through. In its place, the organisers have included the Madonna della Guardia as the last major orographic difficulty. This climb has an average gradient of 7.8% over its almost 7 kilometres and a maximum gradient of 21% as it passes through Lencisa. From the top, 25 kilometres to the Via XX Settembre in Genoa.
Arturo Grávalos, Spanish neoprofessional in the EOLO-KOMETA: “We are back with a bib with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of excitement. Already during the month of April the team did very well in races like the Tour of Turkey or the Tour of Asturias, but what we did in the Giro d’Italia or the recent Adriatica Ionica Race are an extra motivation to continue with this good dynamic of growth and progression. We are going to race with a very good team, with riders who have options to do well and, personally, I also hope to have the opportunity to leave the bar very high”.
Mattia Frapporti: “I can only say that I’m happy to race, because the desire to attack a bib is always great. We’re going to do a very important race with the desire to continue the magical period that our team is living. We are in a position to do something good, and we will definitely do everything we can to make our mark on the race”.
