Italian veteran headlines for new team Bahrain Merida at Tour Down Under

The Giro d’Italia stage winner Domenico Pozzovivo will lead new team Bahrain Merida at the Santos Tour Down Under this month.

Domenico Pozzovivo climbs Torrens Hill Rd during the 2015 edition of the Tour Down Under. The Italian veteran is returning for a new team this year. Picture: Simon Cross

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ITALIAN veteran Domenico Pozzovivo will debut for new team Bahrain Merida at the Santos Tour Down Under this month.

The Giro d’Italia stage winner headlines the team alongside Spanish brothers Gorka and Jon Izaguirre, Ramunas Navardauskas, Yukiya Arashiro, Manuele Boaro and Valerio Agnoli.

“I’m just working to be in a good shape at the start of the Tour Down Under. My objective will be to reach the top 10 in GC (general classification) with a good performance in the two hilly stages (stages four and five),” Pozzovivo said.

“I think we have a very good roster at the start of this race and for me it’s always a pleasure to start the season in South Australia because of the good weather, the beautiful roads to race and a very competent public (crowds) following every stage.”

Pozzovivo, 35, finished seventh overall in the 2016 TDU and the team hopes he and the Izaguirre brothers can all finish top 10 this year.

Gorka Izagirre crosses the finish line after crashing at last year’s Tour Down Under. Picture Sarah Reed

Domenico Pozzovivo in the village at the 2016 Tour Down Under. Picture: Sarah Reed.

The TDU begins on January 11 with the women’s race and the men start on January 14 with the People’s Choice Classic in the city’s East End.

The men’s TDU runs until January 21 and in a change to this year’s course, the peloton will tackle two decisive hill stages in a row to Uraidla on Stage 4 and Old Willunga Hill on Stage 6.

International riders will start arriving in Adelaide on Friday while Australian riders will touch down on Monday after the national championships in Buninyong.

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Originally published as Italian veteran headlines for new team Bahrain Merida at Tour Down Under