The ambitious Colombia-Coldeportes team likes what it sees in the route of the 2013 Giro d’Italia, which was unveiled in Milan, Italy, yesterday, and hopes for an invitation to its debut Grand Tour in what would only be its second year. The South American outfit, whose entire roster is made up of Colombians, received wildcard invitations to Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Sanremo and il Lombardia from RCS Sport, but missed out on the Giro d’Italia as the non-home invitation went to German Team NetApp.
This time, the team’s general manager Caludio Corti hopes that the mountainous route will mean that the race’s organiser looks kindly upon his team of climbers.
“It is a beautiful Giro, sure, with plenty of opportunities for climbers,” he said. “There is a long ITT that will not make pure climbers very happy – and wouldn’t favour us as well – but the final week will be hard-core grimpeurs’ terrain.
“Everything seems to be in place for an exciting race, but it will be up to teams and riders, as usual.
“With so many uphill finishes and big mountains, there’s a lot of terrain where my riders could help to make a spectacular race with their battling attitude,” Corti continued. “The big mountain stages are not exceedingly long, and many of the toughest stage finishes are placed at high-altitude; the Galibier for instance.
“I believe our team could hold their own into such a race. Hopefully, we can get a nod from RCS Sport.”
One hope for the team was that 22-year-old Esteban Chaves was asked to take part in the events that surrounded the route presentation.
“For me, being here is a very special experience,” he said. “Of course, I have never taken part to the Giro, and I don’t really know many of the routes, but the stages’ profiles speak for themselves. It is tough to say which one could suit me best, but sure I would love to test it myself along with my Colombia Coldeportes’ teammates.”