Bahrain Victorious to the Giro dell’Emilia

# Bahrain Victorious Prepares for the Challenging Giro dell’Emilia

As the Italian autumn racing season kicks off on October 4th, Bahrain Victorious is gearing up for the prestigious Giro dell’Emilia. This one-day race, famous for its demanding San Luca circuit, has seen some of the world’s top cyclists deliver thrilling performances across its storied history. Last year, Tadej Pogačar triumphed in a rain-drenched event, becoming the first rider to win while donning the rainbow jersey, joining a glorious lineage that includes recent three-time winner Primož Roglič and Bahrain Victorious’s own Giovanni Visconti, who claimed the title in 2017.

After a four-year hiatus, Bahrain Victorious returns to the course with optimism, as explained by Sports Director Roman Kreuziger. “We have a really nice lineup, with three cards to play: Afonso Eulálio, Lenny Martinez, and Antonio Tiberi,” he stated.

Highlighting the potential of Eulálio, Kreuziger noted, “He’s the big surprise of this autumn. Not only for his outstanding performance at the World Championships in Rwanda, where he showed his potential with a top-ten finish among the world’s best, but also with the progression he displayed starting from Plouay, then in Great Britain, and Canada where he showed excellent condition.”

Regarding Martinez, who is returning from a significant break, Kreuziger said, “His numbers show he’s in good shape physically and fresh mentally. He likes Italian races and this one suits him particularly well.” Tiberi, meanwhile, comes off La Vuelta with strong motivation as the team looks ahead to their major target, Il Lombardia, next week.

Kreuziger added, “So, we have three strong riders, and on paper Eulálio looks our best card for this type of race, but of course, much depends on how the race develops in the finale.”

The team’s strategy also includes Pello Bilbao as road captain. “Pello is coming back from injury, so we don’t expect him in the finale, but he’ll play a key role in the early part of the race and in guiding the team,” said Kreuziger. He acknowledged the importance of early positioning, especially before entering the small roads at km 143 and the initial approach to San Luca.

The 199 km course this year begins in Mirandola and features a flat opening that transitions into a hilly route through the Apennines. Riders will face four climbs, the most significant of which leads into the final 39 km circuit that includes five ascents of the iconic San Luca.

Kreuziger emphasized the significance of the San Luca climb as central to the race’s strategy: “Of course, San Luca is the core of the race, where we expect very aggressive racing. But before that there are key technical points where we must stay attentive.”

In addition to this prestigious race, Bahrain Victorious aims to build momentum for the remaining races in the Italian season. “Giro dell’Emilia is the first of our five Italian races, with largely the same group heading to Tre Valli and Il Lombardia. So beyond the result, it’s really important for us to race smart and keep building momentum for the last Monument of the season,” concluded Kreuziger.

As Bahrain Victorious prepares to tackle the challenges of the Giro dell’Emilia, the team and its fans are eager to see how the race unfolds, with a mix of strategy, talent, and determination at the forefront.