17/04/2012

Tomorrow the Flèche Wallonne: challenge on the Mur de Huy
Nibali captains the Liquigas-Cannondale line up. Only one change after the Amstel: Moser substitutes Sagan



194 kilometres, from Charleroi to Huy, climbing eight côtes but, most of all, repeating the famous Mur de Huy, 19% gradient climb that will divide riders between who want win and who can win. This is, in short, the Flèche Wallonne, second event of the Liquigas-Cannondale Ardenne’s campaign.



The line up headed by DS Alberto Volpi will be the same of the Amstel Gold Race except one rider: Peter Sagan came back home for a period of rest (Tour of California will be his next race), substituted by the young neoprò Moreno Moser. Vincenzo Nibali will be the sole captain, supported by Stefano Agostini, Damiano Caruso, Federico Canuti, Dominik Nerz, Maciej Paterski and Daniele Ratto. The “Shark”, 27 years old, will be also the oldest rider: the average age of the team is only 23 years old (Moser the youngest, 21).



«Have confidence in young riders is not a bet – affirms Volpi - but a conscious choice. At the Amstel they keep up with the race, riding with cleverness and generosity. Tomorrow I expect the same attitude to support Nibali in the best way. Vincenzo ran the Amstel as first race after one month, in addition on a nervous route. I think at Flèche we’ll see an improvement, above all in view of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege».



«On Sunday I wasn’t competitive as I wanted – explains Nibali – but for sure was a useful trial stage after the mountain training camp. My hope for tomorrow is to be more brilliant and to be able to face rhythm change more easily, especially on the Mur de Huy. It will be the part where make the difference, not only with legs. You’ve to be sharp-witted to understand the right moment to move, the tactical situation and other riders. If you stop on that climb, bye bye…».