Wildcard selections, season debut plans: Daily News
Hello again, CyclingTips readers,
As we cross over the midpoint of the week, team selections for the 2021 editions of several different events have been announced, while the early-season plans of some big names continue be revealed.
Read on for the latest from the world of cycling.
Dane Cash
News Editor
What’s news?
Arkéa-Samsic and Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec miss out on Giro wildcard selections
The RCS announced its team selection for the 2021 Giro d’Italia on Wednesday, confirming which second-division squads have received wildcard bids for the race and which have been left out.
With three spots available, Bardiani CSF Faizanè, Eolo-Kometa, and Vini Zabù received the wildcard invitations to the race. The 2021 Giro will mark Eolo-Kometa’s first ever Grand Tour start as the team run by Ivan Basso, Alberto Contador, and Fran Contador moved up to the second division this year. Bardiani CSF Faizanè has not missed a Giro since 2009, while Vini Zabù has attended all but the 2010 and 2019 editions of the race since the team’s founding in 2009.
Although the UCI increased the number of teams racing the Grand Tours this year, there were still more ProTeams hoping for a Giro selection than there were available spots. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, which has not missed the race since 2017, was not selected, and neither was Arkéa-Samsic, despite the interest that Nairo Quintana showed in making the start this year.
The RCS also announced the teams selected to start Strade Bianche, Tirreno-Adriatico, and Milano-San Remo on Wednesday. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Bardiani CSF Faizanè, Eolo Kometa, and Vini Zabù received invites to Strade Bianche, with Arkéa-Samsic automatically invited to all WorldTour one-days (including Strade Biance and Milan-San Remo) as the second-highest ranked ProTeam last year. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Eolo Kometa, Gazprom-Rusvelo, Arkéa-Samsic, and Total-Direct Energie received the wildcard invites to Tirreno-Adriatico. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec, Bardiani CSF Faizanè, Novo Nordisk, and Total-Direct Energie received the wildcard invites to Milano-San Remo.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad announces team selection
If you love team selection news, you’re in luck, as the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad also announced the squads that have been invited to this year’s race to join the 19 WorldTour teams and Alpecin-Fenix and Arkéa-Samsic.
Receiving the wildcard bids for the Belgian one-day are B&B Hotels-KTM, Bingoal WB, Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise, and Total Direct Energie.
Richard Carapaz will get his 2021 campaign underway at the Volta a Catalunya
Richard Carapaz will start his 2021 season at the Volta a Catalunya. The 2019 Giro d’Italia champion said via a post on his website that he expects the two summit finishes on tap in this year’s race to suit his skill set.
Following the Volta a Catalunya, Carapaz is slated to race the Itzulia Basque Country, the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastgone-Liège before returning home to Ecuador to prep for the Tour de France.
Fabio Aru will make his first start with Qhubeka-Assos at the Tour de la Provence
Qhubeka-Assos has announced its roster for the Tour de la Provence, confirming that newcomer Fabio Aru will make his first start with the squad in the French stage race.
This will mark Aru’s first ever appearance at the Tour de la Provence, which will feature a particularly impressive start list this year amid the cancellations or postponements of several other early-season events.
No Passo del Turchino at Milan-San Remo
According to Savonanews, this year’s edition of Milan-San Remo will not include the Passo del Turchino due to a landslide. Although last year’s race did not include the Passo del Turchino either due to route changes made when the mayors of several towns refused to allow the Giro to pass through, the climb has otherwise been a fixture of the course, traditionally as the lone major ascent in the first half of the race.
Organizers are currently weighing their options as to what the exact route will look like for this year’s race and will announce the route in the coming days.
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