It’s current the off season but Team Colombia’s thoughts are turning towards 2014, and the first two races that the squad will compete in.
The South American setup has confirmed today that it will begin its racing in the Argentinean Tour de San Luis event, which runs from January 19th to 26th. It will be the team’s first time to compete in the event, which has featured several WorldTour teams in recent years.
After that it will also make its debut in the Tour de Langkawi, sending a squad to Malaysia for the 2.HC race. That runs from February 27th until March 8th, and will once again feature the Genting Highlands climb, one of the toughest in the sport.
The team recently confirmed to VeloNation that it is interested in signing the former Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez, although it said that the Spaniard needs to resolve his dealings with the folding Euskaltel Euskadi team before it will be able to give him an offer.
Should it be successful in its signing of him, he will be able to guide the young riders on the team, which is predominantly Colombian in its makeup.
General manager Claudio Corti sees the Tour de San Luis and the Tour de Langkawi as two important targets. In addition to enabling his riders to get their seasons underway, the events will also give important exposure to the team sponsors.
“Compared to last year, we had the opportunity to plan our season start in Argentina, where we should find the ideal conditions to get things started,” he said.
“Over the last few years, both San Luis and Langkawi experienced a big rise in participation and overall quality, and we are very glad to make our debut in such races, giving us the opportunity to bring our projects in different areas set to acquire a bigger role in World cycling in the future.”
The team clocked up several important results in 2013, including a stage win in the Tour de Pologne with Jonathan Darwin Atapuma, plus Leonardo Fabio Duque’s victories in the GP Bruno Beghelli and on stage one of the Tour de l’Ain.
It also took placings of second and third on stages of the Giro d’Italia.