Giuseppe Saronni has revealed further details of the project behind the first ever Chinese WorldTour team, answering many of the questions that Cyclingnews raised when the deal was first announced. Saronni confirmed that he will manage the team and so will not have any links with the nascent Bahrain Merida team lead by Vincenzo Nibali.
In a long interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Saronni explained that his management company CGS Cycling will run the team but the arrival of Chinese funding and a major Chinese title sponsor means the team will be the first ever Chinese WorldTour team in the peloton as it helps develop cycling in the country, and Chinese athletes for the 2020 Olympic in Japan and beyond.
The riders under contract with this year’s Lampre-Merida team, including Sacha Modolo and South Africa’s Louis Meintjes, will in theory all be part of the new-look Chinese team and not move across to the Bahrain Merida team. Rui Costa and Diego Ulissi, who already signed new contracts for 2017, will also have leadership roles, ensuring the team has a place in the top 16 teams in the UCI rankings and so has no problems obtaining WorldTour status for 2017. The Italian Colpack Continental team is also part of the project as a feeder team and will help develop the best young Chinese riders.
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Colnago bikes, Champion System clothing
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the team will use Colnago bikes thanks to Saronni’s very close and long-standing relationship with the Italian band. Lampre will remain as second sponsor, with Hong Kong based Champion System set to produce the team’s racing clothing after playing a key part in the deal between the Chinese holding company Tj Sport and Saronni.
“The team is my new challenge for my sixties…” Saronni said, who turns 59 on September 22, 38 years after winning the world road race title in Goodwood, England with a late attack that saw him surge past Greg LeMond to take the rainbow jersey.
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