The Quick Step team will target a strong performance in the Santos Tour Down Under – and, possibly, the overall victory – thanks to the confirmed participation of two of the quickest sprinters in the peloton.
Italian sprinter Francesco Chicchi is returning to the team after a four year absence, and will be joined by another new signing, former world under 23 champion Gerald Ciolek. Together, they will present a very strong challenge in the early-season World Tour event, which traditionally favours sprinters.
“Chicchi is no stranger to the Santos Tour Down, having competed here in 2009 and winning the final stage of the race,” stated Santos Tour Down Under Race Director, Mike Turtur. “It will be interesting to see “The Sheriff” returning to the race next year with his new team Quick Step which he last rode for in 2006.”
Chicchi bears the nickname due to his love of Westerns. He showed his blazing speed with a pair of wins in this year’s Tour of Qatar, and will seek to use that strong early season form again in the January event.
“Chicchi got off to a great start in 2010 with two stage wins at the Tour of Qatar and one in the Tour of California, where he beat sprint king Mark Cavendish,” continued Turtur. “He is in excellent form and cycling fans will be holding their breath to see how he takes on the other top sprinters in our race next year.”
He also expects big things from Ciolek, who spent two years with Team Columbia alongside Mark Cavendish and double Santos Tour Down Under winner Andre Greipel, then raced in 2009 and 2010 for Team Milram. He won the third stage of Bayern Rundfahrt this season and was second on a stage of the Tour de France.
“Ciolek is a promising and talented rider who won the German National Championship road race at the tender age of 18, making him the youngest rider to do so,” said Turtur.
He will be pitched against two former team-mates in the race, and he and Chicchi will help make it a real showdown amongst the fastmen in the peloton.
“With many of the world’s top 10 sprinters such as André Greipel, Mike Cavendish, Tyler Farrar and now Chicchi making their presence at the 2011 Santos Tour Under, this is certainly one race not to be missed,” Turtur concluded.
The ProTour/UCI World Tour race will be held in and around Adelaide between January 16th and 23rd. It will be Lance Armstrong's final event outside the US.
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Quick Step for 2011 Santos Tour Down Under:
Francesco Chicchi (Italy)
Gerald Ciolek (Germany)
Julien Vermote (Belgium)
Marco Bandiera (Italy)
Addy Engels (Netherlands)
Francesco Reda (Italy)
Davide Malacarne (Italy)
Team Manager Rik Van Slycke (Belgium)