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Bahrain Merida preps for Paris – Nice

  • Ron 

Paris-Nice will tackle a terrain more familiar to very skilled riders than just to climbers when the race goes up to the Turini pass on the penultimate day of the 77th edition.. The Pelasque climb, training ground for the many pro cyclists who live in the area, could be a launch-pad for the main contenders in that last stage before the finale around Nice.

The 2019 edition of Paris-Nice sets off in Saint-Germain-en-Laye on Sunday 10 March to arrive in Nice on the 17th. The final weekend is, in theory, spectacular. A huge mountain stage with summit finish at the Turini Pass and the last day serves an explosive out-and-back race in the hills above Nice.

Bahrain Merida is fielding a strong team with two of their GC leaders; Domenico Pozzovivo and Dylan Teuns and their strongest sprinter, Sonny Colbrelli, coming in at high form from the first part of the season.

Domenico Pozzovivo performed well at the Tour of Down Under and landed on the GC podium in Oman while Colbrelli took a stage win in Oman. Teuns put in a good showing at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, taking 5th place.

Franco Pellizotti, TBM Sports director said: “It is a very important race for our team. We aim to run like a really strong team all the way to Nice. Our abbitions are to have stage victories with Sonny Colbrelli at easier and flat stages and we see Domenico Pozzovivo and Dylan Teuns as our contenders for podium in the general classification. All other riders from our lineup will play important role at every stage. Their hard work may be of a big importance for the final classification of one of our leaders.”

Rik Verbrugghe shares same thoughts as his sports director colleague: “We see Domenico Pozzovivo and Dylan Teuns to run for GC and Sonny Colbrelli for the sprint stage victories. It is a hard race with hard stages and various weather conditions and I believe that our team is ready for all these challenges that are ahead of us.”

TBM lineup: Heinrich Haussler, Kristijan Koren, Dylan Teuns, Sonny Colbrelli, Domenico Pozzovivo, Ivan Cortina, Domen Novak

 

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