Enrico Gasparotto proved this spring that he's still capable of landing big results, winning the Amstel Gold Race for the second time, and his move to the Bahrain-Merida team sees him back at WorldTour level with a leadership role in the Ardennes Classics.
Cyclingnews caught up with the 34-year-old Italian in Croatia last week as the new team congregated for the first time to get to know one another and start planning their goals for the 2017 season.
It's not yet clear whether Vincenzo Nibali will ride the Ardennes - with the Tour of Croatia another possibility ahead of the Giro d'Italia - but Gasparotto, speaks about linking up with his compatriot and former Liquigas and Astana teammate, and the possibility of a two-man assault on Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
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Gasparotto also opens up about his move from Wanty-Groupe Gobert to Bahrain, complaining that the Belgian team only offered him a new deal in August – and not a very attractive one at that. He recognises that his new team will have to be patient as everyone finds their feet, but feels that if all goes well, he can see himself carrying on riding all the way until the age of 38 and, hopefully, the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
Cyclingnews: How are things going in the new team?
Enrico Gasparotto: It's perfect for me. It's a completely new project but most of the people involved I've known for a long time. For example, I was teammate of Vladimir Miholjevic (sport director) in Liquigas, I was teammate with Nibali and [Valerio] Agnoli,at Astana, Paolo Slongo I worked with him in Liquigas and Astana, and also Brent Copeland I worked with in Lampre in 2009. Also a lot of staff and soigneurs are coming from Liquigas, so yes, it's a new project but it also feels very familiar.
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