In this transfer market that has been throwing up surprises every day for weeks, even the Tudor he did his part. 7 new entries in the team and not one exit and this is already a sign of strengthening which is part of that growth process with the aim of entering the WorldTour.
Talking to Claudio Cozzi, one of the team's sports directors, is immediately noticeable as being particularly satisfied with the transfer campaign carried out so far. We start from the concept of quantity, to explain why the balance tips completely towards purchases.
«When choosing we must take into account that ours is a team that wants to grow, that has ambitions, but We have seen this year that with 20 players you cannot cover the calendar as you would like.One injury or a bit of illness is all it takes for the blanket to be shortened. So we've brought in both young and experienced players to the team to raise the overall quality level."
With the men you've taken, do you think the invitations will also increase?
The program has already been very busy in this first year, clearly we are missing out on taking part in a grand tour, but considering the two wild cards already assigned, the places available are very few and favour local teamsIt's clear, however, that if you have more horsepower in your engine, the organizers also notice, and therefore I expect a few more invitations from prestigious races.
The signings are important and well-known. Doesn't the fact that you don't have much chance of breaking into the big leagues represent a handicap for teams like yours?
Given that I am not the one who went to contact the athletes, there are those who are responsible for this, I think, however, that at the base of Tudor there is a futuristic project, clear ambitions, an underlying idea aimed at growth at the highest levelsThose who accept embrace this idea and become an integral part of it, knowing that we look far ahead and not just to the immediate.
Let's start then with the analysis of the main names starting from Matthew Trentino...
It can bring great experience first of all, we are talking about a former European champion and world silver medalist, a man who also emerged in the classics, who had also been a protagonist in Glasgow until he fell and he was very promising in what he was doing. He's a top-level rider, who can take us even further.
But do you still consider him a winner?
I say yes, he's someone who knows how to win, he's a fighter. Look what he did to the Italian championshipHe fought like a madman on a course that certainly wasn't his forte. He'll have his chances, and we'll support him in achieving his goals.
The hiring of Storer, one of the most highly regarded and successful riders in the panorama of short stage races, is striking, but returning to the previous discussion, it's surprising that he chose a team with difficult prospects of participating in a Grand Tour...
We are a Swiss team, so two important participations such as the Romandie and the Tour de Suisse are assured, but other important races such as the Tirreno-Adriatico and others are also almost certain. He will have a suitable calendar to show off, he, like others, has embraced the project and if, as we all hope, the invitation for a grand tour arrives, he will be ready.. On the other hand, Michael also has a lot of room for improvement, I think it's a great opportunity for him.
Alberto Dainese strengthen your fast sector…
This year we have already had a top sprinter like Arvid The Little One, also winner of the Milan-Turin, with Dainese we will have more choices, the two will be able to split up, we will be able to cover more events which is exactly our intention. Alberto is an excellent sprinter, he showed himself well at the 2022 Giro and this year, because he is resilient, that is, he can emerge even after two weeks of competition, even the day after having overcome great mountains and that is not something that everyone can doThen we're talking about a 25-year-old rider, with a whole career ahead of him.
Another name to highlight is that of Hannes Wilksch who is being promoted by your Development team. He's considered by many to be one of the best prospects of his generation...
I think so too, he did a great job Giro Next Gen and now he will be at the Tour de l'Avenir. He is an extremely serious boy and very adult for his age., I got to know him at training camp and drove him a couple of times, he knows what he wants.
Is he also a stage racer in the future?
I think he's achieved excellent results, but we need to give him the opportunity to mature, like Storer and many others. Hannes must also continue to train physically, we must give him time as well as the others, without rushing.
You are now at the Tour of Denmark, what are your prospects?
We have a young team with a local core, with Camping and the brothers ErikssonWe want to earn our bread day after day,or we also did yesterday in a hellish stage, with an average of 7 punctures per teamThere were sections where we passed through a veritable quagmire, especially on the cobblestone sections, it felt like there was a lake on the ground. Everything will be decided over the weekend, as always. We may not be in the running for the overall victory, but we certainly want to make ourselves noticed.
