From June 11-18, the Giro d'Italia Next Gen will be staged, featuring 8 stages in 8 days to crown the pink jersey. There will be 17 Italian teams at the start, along with 18 international teams boasting a top-level starting list. Additionally, 5 Under23 athletes from Green Project Bardiani-CSF Faizanè will participate in 2023. The lineup should have also aimed to contend for the overall classification with Alessio Martinelli, Giulio Pellizzari, and Alessandro Pinarello.
The selection that has emerged will include a mix of young athletes (including two in their first year in the Under category) and experienced ones. Furthermore, the team comprises athletes with different characteristics to ensure competitiveness in each stage.
These are the words of Mirko Rossato, the sport director who follows and directs the Under23s: "We have a competitive team and have assembled a squad suitable for all types of routes. We don't have a dedicated sprinter in the team because our main focus is on the GC. Martinelli, Pinarello, and Pellizzari have a good chance of performing well. This will also be the first participation for Paletti and Scalco, i want them to learn and gain experience. They will be at the disposal of our more experienced riders but will also have opportunities in stages where breakaways occur. I have a lot of trust in the juniors and hope they can achieve good results considering the course is not very difficult. The minimum goal would be to win a stage. I also want to mention that other members of our roster deserved to participate, but we made a technical choice. They will have other opportunities in the future."
LINE UP:
The "most experienced" athlete at the start will be Alessio Martinelli, born in the class of 2001, who has achieved several notable placements in Under and professional races. He finished 2nd at the Piva Trophy, 4th in January at the Andraxt Trophy, 4th in the Istrian Spring Trophy, 7th at the Serra de Tramuntana Trophy, 4th at the Palio del Recioto, and secured a 4th-place stage finish at the Alpes Isère. This will be his first participation in the Next Gen Giro, as he was forced to withdraw last year due to a knee injury.
Also participating is Giulio Pellizzari, a climber from the class of 2003 hailing from Marche. This will be his second time participating in the Giro Next Gen. This year, he achieved a third-place stage finish at the Tour of the Alps, secured 2nd place at the Palio del Recioto, finished 2nd overall at the Carpathian Couriers Race, and emerged as the winner of the youth and climbers classifications.
Another participant from the class of 2003 is Alessandro Pinarello, who finished 6th at the Trofeo Piva, 3rd at the Palio del Recioto, and 3rd at the G.P. Liberazione. In each stage of the Carpathian Couriers Race, he consistently placed in the Top 10. He also achieved a prestigious placement of 7th at last year's Il Piccolo Lombardia.
Another participant from the class of 2003 on the starting grid is Alessandro Pinarello. He finished 6th at the Trofeo Piva, 3rd at the Palio del Recioto, and 3rd at the G.P. Liberazione. In each stage of the Carpathian Couriers Race, he has consistently placed in the top 10. He also achieved a prestigious placement of 7th at last year's Il Piccolo Lombardia.
Two rookies complete the lineup. First, we have Matteo Scalco, who emerged as the winner of the Peace Cup in 2023. The other newcomer is Luca Paletti, a Cyclocross specialist who secured victory at the Trofeo Città di Flero this year.
Alessio Martinelli (2001)
Giulio Pellizzari (2003)
Alessandro Pinarello (2003)
Matteo Scalco (2004)
Luca Paletti (2004)
The Giro Next Gen will have extensive web coverage, available on the new website (www.gironextgen.it) as well as the Giro d'Italia social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Dailymotion. Additionally, live race coverage can be followed on the Giro d'Italia Twitter account.
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