Dave Brailsford has said while two riders in the Team Ineos line-up had been appointed team leaders for the Giro, he wanted the young riders in the squad to animate the race.
Eddie Dunbar and Ivan Sosa have been drafted in for Gianni
Moscon, who goes to the Tour of California instead, and Egan Bernal, who broke
his collarbone at the weekend.
In Bernal’s absence Team Ineos has said Tao Geoghegan Hart
(24) and Pavel Sivakov (21) will lead the team.
They are joined by Dunbar, Sebastian Henao, Christian Knees,
Jhonatan Narvaez, Salvatore Puccio and Sosa.
But Dave Brailsford said that in the absence of Bernal,
around whose GC chances the team was picked, the most important thing was for
the young team to embrace the race.
He wanted them to be active in the attacks and to have a
sense of excitement for the race; adding those chosen were the team’s new
generation.
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That sounds like music to the ears of Eddie Dunbar. The
22-year-old will not have to be told twice he has the opportunity to attack the
race.
And while Dunbar has been added to the line-up late, he is
in flying form and comes into the event mentally fresh rather than having been
preoccupied about it for months.
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“Over the
last two seasons we have been bringing together a carefully selected group of
young riders who we believe to be the future of our team,” Brailsford said.
“Whilst
very much in the learning and development phase of their careers, we have
nevertheless already seen them taking great strides forwards this year.
“Egan,
Pavel and Chris Lawless all winning stage races and Tao, Ivan, Jhonatan,
Sebastian and Eddie all riding exceptionally well.
“With
this developmental goal in mind, we have chosen to field our youngest-ever team
for a Grand Tour and it’s fitting it should be our first one as Team Ineos.
“We will
not dramatically change our approach to the race as we will still look to give
each rider the greatest developmental opportunities and to learn and gain as
much experience as possible."
“Egan’s
injury is a real shame as he was to lead the team in a Grand Tour for the first
time. However, I’m sure he will be fighting fit come July.
“Eddie
will now come into the Team for his first Giro and given his recent
performances it is well deserved.
“Both
Salvatore and Christian have been selected to add in a wealth of Grand Tour
experience and to support the riders who will be racing for three weeks for the
first time.”
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