Tour Poitou-Charentes: between history and opportunity

Stage 1: Confolens – Matha (195,2km)
Stage 2: Aulnay de Saintonge – Bressuire (187’3km)
Stage 3a: Coussay-les-Bois – La Roche-Posay (94’1km)
Stage 3b: La Roche-Posay – La Roche-Posay (22’1km ITT)
Stage 4: Moncoutant – Poitiers (170’4km)

A race that continues to be beloved and considered important in France, there in the lands of Aquitaine where in 732 the knights led by Charles Martel defeated the Muslims in the famous battle of Poitiers (the final stage’s arrival site). A beautiful race, with a starting list that tickles the fancy and makes one want to try to hit a mark. A varied course, perhaps not very hard but with the unknown of the time trial stage and the last stage with a very nervous final circuit that will surely make selection. EOLO KOMETA wants to continue its French campaign after the good things shown at the Tour du Limousin and presents itself at the start with a team ready to give battle as always.

Around Mirco Maestri, designated captain, here are the fast legs of Giovanni Lonardi ready to assert himself in the sprint with Samuele Rivi seen in great growth along with Andrea Pietrobon. Completing the group are David Martin and Diego Sevilla back from the Vuelta a Burgos ready to go in the breakaway every day along with Simone Bevilacqua.

It starts Tuesday with the 195.2-kilometer Confolens-Matha that should reserve a sprint finish, while the next day the peloton will go from Aulnay de Saintonge to Bressuire for a 185.7-kilometer stage. On Thursday, there will be a double effort with two half-stages: the 94.1-km Coussay Les Bois-La Roche Posay in the morning and a 22.1-km time trial in La Roche Posay in the afternoon. The most challenging stage will be the last one, scheduled for Friday with the start in Moncoutant and the finish in the final circuit of Poitiers after 170.4 km.

Stefano Zanatta: “We know this race well, in past years we have already participated and we know that we will not find big elevation differences but narrow and nervous roads. On Thursday there is a 22 km time trial and on Friday there is the final circuit of Poitiers in which there will be few in front: the race will be decided in these two days. We want to keep racing as we did in Limousin, the team is pedaling well and we will fight for intermediate rankings and sprints with Lonardi, and we will try to make rankings with Rivi and Maestri who have been doing well in the last time trials.”