Dan Martin, Davide Cimolai and Dani Navarro
launch their season in Valencia
- Both sprinters and climbers have chances for victory in Valencia
- Dan Martin is ‘eager to pin on a race number’
- Davide Cimolai in the mix for results in flat stages
Tel Aviv, 05-02-2020
Israel Start-Up Nation is off to Valencia with a diverse team that can hunt for success in all five different stages. Dan Martin will launch his season as the circled leader for the two stages with uphill finish, while Davide Cimolai is ISN’s fastest guy on the flat.
The line-up:
Director Sportive in function, Oscar Guerrero, says: “We have double options in this race. We will go with ‘Cimo’ as our designated sprinter with Reto Hollenstein, Matthias Brändle and Tom van Asbroeck leading him out and we have Martin for the GC.”
READY FOR A NICE START
“Of course we want to win a stage here and maybe more, but let’s not get carried away”, he says.
Dan Martin, the leader of the team, is looking forward to getting the season rolling. “I am really excited to pin on a number and get my first season started with ISN. It’s always a bit unknown as to how my condition is but I’ve enjoyed the training and everything has gone pretty well.”
“The Volta a Valenciana is a nice race to start the year with and also to find out how to work together as new teammates”, he continues.
‘SATURDAY’S CLIMB LOOKS BRUTAL’
The Irishman is particularly looking forward to the two uphill finishes. “Those two stages (stage 2 and 4) look good for me, but as always at this race the level will be really high so we will just see what I can do.”
“Saturday’s final climb looks truly brutal and really hard effort for so early in the season but it will also be a nice test to see what work I still need to do in training.”
Guerrero agrees with Martin: “Those two climbs suit Dan very well. We have Guy Niv and Dani Navarro helping him.”
NO SETBACKS FOR NAVARRO
Also Spanish climber Dani Navarro is ready to start his race season. “I’ve had a great winter without setbacks. I’m feeling good, but the first race of the year is always difficult.”
“The rhythm of competition is not the same as the rhythm of training, but anyway I’m happy to start the races. My idea is to help Dan Martin in the two stages with finishes uphill.”
The Volta Valencia consists out of five stages, starts Wednesday in Castellón and finishes Sunday in Valencia.
ISN line-up for the Volta a la Cominitat Valenciana:
- Dan Martin (Ireland)
- Reto Hollenstein (Switzerland)
- Davide Cimolai (Italy)
- Guy Niv (Israel)
- Tom van Asbroeck (Belgium)
- Dani Navarro (Spain)
- Matthias Brändle (Austria)
Watch the race live on Eurosport 2 (in Israel)
