Great week for Cipollini's sponsored team, Palazzago!

Great weekend for team Palazzago as the season starts. The race of over 100 kms. in St Geo Cup in Brescia culminated with first place for Luca Sterbini which brought excitement to thousands of people along the way. Ukrainian Marlene Zmorka, credited as one of the strongest in the world under-23, came in second. Excellent placings were also collected by Mark Chianese, third and Andrei Voicu who arrived fourth. 

Team president Ezio Tironi Great expressed great satisfaction: "The serenity and the seriousness invested by our group this winter is already producing results. I'm very happy with our organization and the group of guys who have accepted a major challenge working for our group."

Track cyclist Francesco Castegnaro is ready to race soon at the World Cup in Cali, Colombia.

BOND NAKED YELLOW FLUO MATT TEAM

COLBRELLI 4th IN TROFEO LAIGUEGLIA - BARDIANI CSF

	A new placing has been conquered today by Sonny Colbrelli.  The team Bardiani CSF rider arrived 4th in Trofeo Laigueglia of 181 kms. The winner was Jose Serpa (LAM). Results Trofeo Laigueglia, 181km 1. Jose Serpa (LAM) 4.42.43 2. Patrick Sinkewitz (MKT) st. 3. Andrea Pasqualon (AZT) 0.13 4. Sonny Colbrelli (BAR) st. 5. Diego Ulissi (LAM) st. REACTIONS Sonny Colbrelli: ”I regret this result. Honestly today I started with the goal of winning on my mind. Serpa and Sinkewitz pulled out very well, but behind we didn't have the right organization to catch them. Also, there was only Pagani with me, who did a solid work. At the end I launched a long sprint, Pasqualon was behind me and he passed on the line. Anyway I hope to have better luck soon”.  Mirko Rossato, Sport Director: ”The guys did great but we missed the power to catch Serpa and Sinkewitz. This was a race perfect for Colbrell’s skills and again he’s arrived close to the victory. We’re missing a victory but from little mistakes we can improve for the future”.

Bardiani Greenteam shine in Oman!

CANOLA, BATTAGLIN AND BOEM SHINE IN OMAN
	Great performance today by Marco Canola and Enrico Battaglin in Tour of Oman stage 3, Bank Muscat – Al Bustan of 145 km, where they claimed in 5th and 10° place. Also, it was Nicola Boem's  first day, he remained ahead for more than 100 km. Results Tour of Oman Stage 3, 145 km 1. Andre Greipel (LTB) 3.29.08 2. Peter Sagan (CAN) st. 3. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) st. 4. Ben Swift (SKY) st. 5. Marco Canola (BAR) st.  6. Zdenek Stybar (OPQ) st. 10. Enrico Battaglin (BAR) st.  REACTIONS Marco Canola:”I’m happy for today's result, especially looking towards the classification. This winter I trained really well, with a part of the squad we moved to Spain to get ready for the first part of the season and step by step the first results are coming. Today in the finale I talked with Battaglin and I had the chance to play my chance. I started my sprint early with 350 meters to go, because I was closed by other riders. I did a good come back, achieving this positive result”.  Roberto Reverberi, Sport Director:”Guys are racing very well and today too we reached good results between the most part of the best world riders. Our strategy was to get a positive result with Battaglin and Canola who had led out him in the last km, found the space for his sprint. However Enrico (Battaglin, ndr), is arrived into the top-10. This is an important signal that his shape is growing and he had recovered from Qatar’s fall. Today also Boem went again into the early breakaway winning both the intermediate sprints. Only negative thing is the minutes lost by Locatelli for general and youth classification”.  Tomorrow Tour of Oman will present a decisive stage from Wadi Al Abiyad to Ministry of Housing for 173 km. The final will be really demanding with four steep uphills.

THE NEW BOND: THE NERI SOTTOLI / YELLOW FLUO TEAM BIKE - SEASON 2014

The Cipollini Bond is the official bike of Italian UCI Professional Continental team Neri Sottoli, also known as the Yellow Fluo team. It is the latest jewel of the Verona based company - CIPOLLINI, which focuses on an impact color with the inclusion of a new element, the Orange Fluo.

The Bond is a bike with a great impact not only for its colors but for its high tech specs. The Yellow Fluo team's bikes are equipped with Campagnolo Super Record 11 speed, Selle Italia seat, Ursus wheels, FSA components, Schwalbe tubulars and clinchers as well as Time pedals.  This exceptional fusion makes this a high performance bike any dream team should have.

THE WOMEN DREAM TEAM "ALÉ - CIPOLLINI - GALASSIA"

The Ale-Cipollini girls team has recently participated in the Ladies Tour of Qatar, 2014.  

The team was formed by Tatiana Guderzo, Marta Tagliaferro, Valentina Carretta, Monia Baccaille, Malgorzata Jasinska and Michela Pavin, as well as newcomers Elena Berlato, Ilaria Bonomi, Barbara Guarischi. Two new foreigners are also added to the team, Spanish champion Ana Santesteban Gonzales and  American Shelley Olds. 

Sports Director Luisiana Pegoraro, foresees many victories for her team.  "As always I'm anxious to start a new season and I'm sure the girls feel the same way.  I'm positive this will be a very good team, like last year's. The team has ambitious goals and we will do everything to achieve them and not disappoint our fans and our club president". 

COLBRELLI OPENS WITH A PODIUM

New solid result, the fourth in one week, for Sonny Colbrelli who today claimed in the 3rd place in Tour de Mediterraneen opening hilly stage from Argelès-sur-Mer to Montagnac of 223km. The stage started with an early breakaway of five riders who came out after 10 km. Gap increased until 8.00 minutes but then the peloton with the Giant-Shimano ahead started to reduce it. With 40 km to on a steep hill and with crosswind, the peloton splitted in several echelons and 35 riders remained in front, included the five escapees. After some kilometers, the chasing group rejoined the leader, composing a peloton of about ninety riders. With 12km to go belgian Premont (WBC) attacked alone, he gained 0.50 seconds but he was caught into the last km. Here in the final bunch sprint,Sonny Colbrelli helped by Barbin, started a long sprint from tithe place and with a outstanding come back pipped several riders, crossing the line in 3rd place, close to winner John Degenkolb (GIA) and italian Napolitano (WGG) 2nd. In the first group with Colbrelli and Barbin, to report the presence ofBongiorno and Pagani, important for the general classification. Also with today result Colbrelli is first youth classification leader and third in the overall. 1° Tappa Tour de Mediterraneen (Argelès-sur-Mer – Montagnac, 223km) 1. John Degenkolb (GIA) 2. Danilo Napolitano (WGG) st.  3. Sonny Colbrelli (BAR) st. 4. Manuel Belletti (AND) st. 5. Benjamin Giraud (LPM) st. REACTIONS Sonny Colbrelli:”It was a really demanding stage. 223km all up and down and with crosswinds in the second part. There was selection into the peloton and in the finale we were only ninety riders. I took Chavanel wheel into the last km, supposing he had the legs for a good sprint but I was wrong. So I had to start a long sprint to move up but it wasn’t enough for the victory. I want see this podium in a positive way that my shape is growing very well. Tomorrow we have another demading stage, probably more than today”.  Mirko Rossato, Sport Director:”A start of Mediterraneen not easy, with a long and tricky stage. We struggled a little in the first part then we came out really well in the finale and Sonny achieved another great result. Also positive the performance of Barbin, Bongiorno and Pagani. Only bad thing Pirazzi who still suffered for Besseges incident and he dropped during the selection with 40km to go. Tomorrow there is another challenging stage, with a KOM climb of horse categorie in the final part that I guess it will be decisive both for stage victory and general classification”.  Tour of Mediterraneen will continue tomorrow with stage number 2 from Cadovile to Rousset for 170km. The route presents a climb of H.C.-category with 25km to go and the arrival on short uphill.

Post by Cipollini USA.