Our main sponsor is the Italian coffee brand Lavazza. Originally founded in Turin in 1895 by Luigi Lavazza. Now a global coffee brand with subsidiaries in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Austria, United Kingdom and United States.
Secondary sponsors
We are teaming up with classic Italian companies Cinelli and Campagnolo to supply the team's bikes and componentry. Another quality Italian company, Castelli, will supply the team clothing.
Team kit
Thank you to TeddytheCreator for the jersey design.
Edited by lennybernstein on 24-06-2012 15:27
Marco Pinotti
Five-times Italian time trial champion, veteran Pinotti will be our main GC rider. He'll be building his season around the Giro and aiming for a top 10.
Chris Anker Sorenson
Gutsy Danish climber Sorenson will provide support to Pinotti in the mountains, but will also have the chance to lead the team in smaller stage races and one day events.
Paolo Tiralongo
Like Sorenson, experienced Italian climber Tiralongo will provide key support to Pinotti at the Giro.
Alex Rasmussen
TT specialist Alex Rasmussen will be our main contender when it comes to the 'race of truth'. He's also a half decent sprinter, so don't be surprised if he picks up a few results on the flat too. The Post Rundt Danmark will be a big personal goal for him this season.
Roberto Ferrari
Fastman Roberto Ferrari - friend of Mark Cavendish (!) - will lead the team in the sprints. Two key lead-out men for Ferrari will be Michele Merlo and Anuar Manan.
Lavazza will be looking for strong performances in the Italian races this year. Key goals for the team this year will be:
Giro di Sardegna - Top 3
Tirreno - Adriatico - Top 10; stage win
Giro del Trentino - GC win
Giro d'Italia - Top 10
Post Danmark Rundt - Top 3
Il Lombardia - Top 10
The sponsor will also be looking for the team to be picking up wins in the Italian one-day races.
Overall, the team hope to achieve a top 5 place in the Continental rankings this season.
Edited by lennybernstein on 09-06-2012 11:25
Our coaching staff has been working closely with the riders over the winter to develop tailored fitness and coaching plans. Controversially, the coaching team have been accused by some outsiders of using "off-the-shelf" fitness programmes. The coaches are insistent that using 'tried and tested' plans is the way to go this season, although haven't ruled out the possibility of using more tailored, 'customised' plans will be used in future seasons.
Scouting in Italy
Our scout has been sent by team management to look at a number of young talents around Italy. With no youth races having taken place yet and no other intelligence to go on, this scouting mission has been described by one insider as akin to "looking for a needle in a hay stack".
World Tour Wildcards
In great news for the team, Lavazza were awarded wildcards to all but one of the World Tour races they applied for. This means the team will be riding at three big Italian World Tour races this season: Tirreno-Adriatico, Il Lombardia and most importantly, the Giro! The team has also been awarded places at the Vattenfall Cyclassic race in August and the GP Cycliste de Montreal in September. The one race Lavazza missed out on was the Tour de Romandie.
Early Season Schedule
The team have an extremely packed early season schedule. The end of February will see all 24 members of the team make pressed into action as the team competes in races in Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The team doctors will praying there are no injuries!
January
28-30 2.1 Giro della Calabria
Feburary
2-6 2.1 Etoile de Besseges
5 1.1 G.P. Costa degli Etruschi
6-10 2.1 Vuelta a Mallorca
19-20 2.1 Tour de Haut Var
19 1.1 Trofeo Laigueglia
22-26 2.1 Giro di Sardegna
26 1.1 GP dell'Insubria - Lugano
27 1.1 GP di Lugano
27 1.1 Classica Sarda Sassari - Cagliari
27 1.1 Clasica di Almeira
Edited by lennybernstein on 09-06-2012 12:26
Our one and only race in January will be the hilly three-day stage race, the Giro della Calabria.
Team start-list: Fabio Aru, Alessandro Bisolti, Johannes Frohlinger, Francesco Gavazzi, Sebastian Lander, Fabio Negri, Luca Pierfelici, Alex Rasmussen
At this stage of the season it's all about gaining fitness, although we are hoping team leader Francesco Gavazzi - strong in the hills and with a fast finish - will be in strong enough form to pick up some results.
Edited by lennybernstein on 13-06-2012 11:09
The Giro della Calabria was dominated by pre-race favourite Peter Sagan from the World Tour Voetbal International - SigaarSnor team. He looked in imperious form as he won the bunch sprint to pick up 3rd on stage 1 and then won both stages 2 and 3, comfortably taking the overall prize to boot.
Lavazza's fortunes were mixed. Our best rider on the hills, team leader Francesco Gavazzi, showed promise on stage 1, picking up 6th, whilst Pierfelici picked up a 5th. But Gavazzi faded in the next two stages to finish the race over 4 minutes down in 18th place. However, an incredibly strong performance from Fabio Negri saw him pick up 3rd on stage 2, 5th on stage 3 and 3rd overall. Meanwhile, a consistent performance from our Austrian climber Johannes Frohlinger bagged him 8th overall.
With Lavazza only taking part in three race days in January, it is no surprise to see our riders way down in the rankings. A dominant start to the season sees Peter Sagan topping the overall rider rankings, whilst Matti Breschel tops the Continental rankings after winning the Tour de San Luis, taking several stages in the process. Our two most notable riders are Fabio Negri - 25th overall and 9th in the Continental standings - and Johannes Frohlinger (49th / 40th).
Indivdual Rider Overall Rankings
1 Peter Sagan Voetbal International - SigaarSnor 433
2 Óscar Freire Clas - Cajastur 297
3 Matti Breschel Team Vestas Wind 265
25 Fabio Negri Lavazza 60
49 Johannes Fröhlinger Lavazza 35
Indivdual Rider Continental Rankings
1 Matti Breschel Team Vestas Wind 218
2 Yaroslav Popovych Katusha Team 94
3 Martin Elmiger Credit Suisse Cycling 80
9 Fabio Negri Lavazza 42
40 Johannes Fröhlinger Lavazza 8
Team Overall Rankings
1 Voetbal International - SigaarSnor 629
2 ANZ - Giant Cycling Team 391
3 Red Bull - Oracle Cycling Team 352
19 Lavazza 95
Team Continental Rankings
1 Team Vestas Wind 240
2 Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team 124
3 Sporza - Leonidas 115
10 Lavazza 56
Lavazza Rider of the Month
With an unexpectedly strong performance in the Giro della Calabria, our rider of the month can only be Fabio Negri!
Edited by lennybernstein on 24-06-2012 12:08
February will be a busy month, with Lavazza competing in ten races across Europe, with all the riders being given a chance to make their season debuts.
The big goal for the sponsors this month will be the Giro di Sardegna. This early season Italian stage race has a very hilly parcours, ideally suited to Chris Anker Sorenson who will be our GC man at the race. The team will also be hoping Francesco Gavazzi can impress after his disappointing start in Calabria last month. Fabio Negri, our surprise podium finisher in Calabria will also be starting in Sardegna.
Elsewhere, the team's fast men will get a chance to shine. Anuar Manan will make his debut at the french stage race the Etoile de Besseges, which features three flat stage opportunities for him to shine. Our leading sprinter Roberto Ferrari will then make his debut at the G.P. Costa degli Etruschi.
2-6 Feb 2.1 Etoile de Besseges
Startlist: F.Aru, A.Bisolti, Y.Eijssen, J. Frohlinger, F.Gavazzi, A.Manan
5 Feb 1.1 G.P. Costa degli Etruschi
Startlist: R.Ferrari, S.Lander, F.Negri, L.Pierfelici, A.Rasmussen, F. Savini
6-10 Feb 2.1 Vuelta a Mallorca
Startlist: R.Ferrari, S.Lander, F.Negri, L.Pierfelici, A.Rasmussen, F. Savini
19-20 Feb 2.1 Tour de Haut Var
Startlist: F.Aru, A.Bisolti, Y.Eijssen, J.Frohlinger, S.Lander, L.Pierfelici
27 Feb 1.1 Clasica di Almeira
Startlist: E.Capecchi, S.Lander, M.Merlo, L.Pierfelici, M.Pinotti, A.Rasmussen
Edited by lennybernstein on 16-06-2012 11:05
2-6 Feb 2.1 Etoile de Besseges
Startlist: F.Aru, A.Bisolti, Y.Eijssen, J. Frohlinger, F.Gavazzi, A.Manan
We had no great aspirations in the early season french race and perhaps it showed in our performances. Frohlinger picked up our result, placing 9th on the hilly stage 2. Gavazzi was our highest rider overall, finishing 17th.
There was no doubt the race belonged to the Colombia - Coldeportes team. The won stage 1 (through Hutarovich), stage 2 (Ivanov), stage 3 (Huschovd), stage 4 (Hutarovich), stage 5 (Hutarovich), the overall classification (Ivanov) and the sprints classification (Huschovd). Unbeatable from start to finish.
5 Feb 1.1 G.P. Costa degli Etruschi
Startlist: R.Ferrari, S.Lander, F.Negri, L.Pierfelici, A.Rasmussen, F. Savini
This was our first outing of the season for our top sprinter Roberto Ferrari, and we had high hopes for him to pick up a win on home soil. However, our Danish time triallist Alex Rasmussen showed he is also no slouch in a sprint by picking up the team's best placing, coming home third in the bunch sprint behind race winner Sacha Modolo (Privatbank) and Sebastian Siedler (Omega Pharma - Quickstep). Ferrari meanwhile came in 10th.
6-10 Feb 2.1 Vuelta a Mallorca
Startlist: R.Ferrari, S.Lander, F.Negri, L.Pierfelici, A.Rasmussen, F. Savini
Our line-up was focused on picking up results in the race's two flat stages. We came very close to picking up our first victories of the season, but the in-form Peter Sagan (VI-SigaarSnor) and Matti Breschel (Team Vestas Wind) had other ideas.
Stage 1 was the first opportunity for our fastmen, and Alex Rasmussen took second, narrowly losing out to Sagan. Ferrari was our designated sprinter in stage 2, again picking up a respectable 2nd position, this time behind Breschel.
So it was Valverde who took the overall in this keenly fought Spanish race. Lavazza's highest overall finisher was Fabio Negri, who came 11th overall after some consistent performances in the hills.
After his disappointing performance in the Giro del Calabria last month, Francesco Gavazzi showed he was finally coming into form, picking up a fine third place in this hilly early season one-day race. Vladimir Karpets (Team Holden - Westpac) picked up the win, with Oscar Freire (Clas-Cajastur) completing the podium.
22-26 2.1 Giro di Sardegna
Startlist: F.Aru, A.Bisolti, J. Frohlinger, F.Gavazzi, F.Negri, C.A. Sorenson
This was our big focus of the month. With the sponsors expecting a top 3 overall, the pressure was on team to deliver results and get some publicity for Lavazza in Italy's biggest stage race of the year so far. Chris Anker Sorenson would be our protected GC rider, with Gavazzi given a free role to pick up stage wins.
We had mixed fortunes on the hilly Stage 1. Gavazzi picked up a neat third place behind the ever-impressive Sagan (VI-SigaarSnor) and Mauro Finetto (Team Holden - Westpac). Sørensen, however, went for broke in daring breakaway, only to completely hit the wall. He finished the stage over six minutes down, his GC hopes dashed. The main consolation, however, was that he also picked up enough points to lead the KoM competition.
Sagan won again in the hills on stage 2 to extend his overall lead. Sørensen, meanwhile, recovered enough from yesterday to finish an solid third. He also picked up enough points to retain the KoM jersey. But Gavazzi finished nearly two minutes down, dropping down to 8th overall.
Stage 3 saw the race move into the mountains. Our very own Alessandro Bisolti nearly produced the shock of the race, coming a very close second to Damiano Cunego (Privatbank). Sagan, however, produced an equally impressive display to maintain his grip on the leaders jersey, finishing just 16 seconds down in third place. Sørensen picked up a solid fourth and held on to the KoM jersey too. Gavazzi lost further time however and dropped out of the top ten.
Sagan continued his dominance on stage 4, picking up yet another stage victory. Gavazzi meanwhile picked his second podium of the race, coming in a fine third. Stage 5 saw yet another win for Peter Sagan. Lavazza also impressed; Gavazzi picked up an impressive second place, Fröhlinger was fourth and Sørensen was 7th.
Gavazzi finished a very respectable fifth overall. Our GC hope Sørensen finished 8 minutes 41 seconds down in 14th place. Notably, if he hadn't lost those 6 minutes on the first stage he would have finished second. More impressively, however, Sørensen narrowly clung on the KoM jersey, pipping the imperious Sagan by two points to win Lavazza's first jersey!
27 Feb 1.1 GP di Lugano
Startlist: R.Bardet, Y.Eijssen, A.Manan, L.Moser. P.Tiralongo, M.Trentin
This was more of a training ride for our riders and our results were completely unremarkable. The race winner was Michael Albasini (Credit Suisse Cycling)
Indivdual Rider Overall Rankings
1 Peter Sagan Voetbal International - SigaarSnor 914
2 Matti Breschel Team Vestas Wind 763
3 Mark Cavendish Ferrari-British Airways 739
Best placed Lavazza riders...
59
Francesco Gavazzi
Lavazza
90
62
Fabio Negri
Lavazza
87
72
Sebastian Lander
Lavazza
72
Indivdual Rider Continental Rankings
1 Matti Breschel Team Vestas Wind 506
2 Yaroslav Popovych Katusha Team 289
3 Sylvain Chavanel MTN - Supersport 218
Best placed Lavazza riders...
19
Francesco Gavazzi
Lavazza
77
33
Fabio Negri
Lavazza
47
37
Alex Rasmussen
Lavazza
45
50
Sebastian Lander
Lavazza
30
Team Overall Rankings
1 Ferrari - British Airways 1497
2 Voetbal International - SigaarSnor 1275
3 Team Vestas Wind 1265
19 Lavazza 401
Lavazza remain in 19th position in the overall team rankings.
Team Continental Rankings
1 Team Vestas Wind 718
2 AG2R La Mondiale 576
3 Credit Suisse Cycling 424
8 Lavazza 271
And the team are up two places from 10th to 8th in the Continental rankings.
Lavazza February Rider of the Month
There were some good individual performances this month. Sorenson came 3rd in stage 2 of the Giro di Sardegna and won the KoM jersey too. Rasmussen picked up second in stage 1 of the Vuelta a Mallorca.
The most outstanding rider was Franceso Gavazzi. Gavazzi came second in stage 5 of Sardegna and was also third on stages 1 and 4. He finished 5th overall. He also finished on the podium at Trofeo Laigueglia, bagging third place.
March will be a landmark month for Lavazza, with the team competing in its first World Tour race, the Tirreno-Adriatico. The sponsors are looking for a top 10 overall and a stage win. Chris Anker Sorenson will be our GC man, and after showing some solid form in Sardegna last month he must stand a good chance of meeting the sponsor's objectives. The team will also have high hopes on the flat stages, with Ferrari, Rasmussen, Gavazzi, Manan and Merlo forming our sprint train.
Later in the month, the Settimana Coppi e Bartali provides another opportunity for stage race glory on home soil. Sorenson will be gunning for victory again here. Marco Pinotti will be looking to build up some form as he looks ahead to the Giro del Trentino in April and the Giro in May.
In other races, Rasmussen will have his first opportunity to test himself against the clock this season at Murcia (as well as at Tirreno-Adriatico and Coppi e Bartali). Sorenson and Gavazzi will have hopes for a win in the classic Strade Bianchi and the Giro del Fruli and the Cholet Pays de Loire may provide opportunities for the team's first win of the season.
3 Mar 1.1 Giro del Fruli
Startlist: F.Aru, R.Bardet, D.Bellemakers, F.Gavazzi, S.Lander, M.Merlo, F.Negri, C.A.Sorenson
4-6 Mar 2.1 Vuelta a la Region di Murcia
Startlist: A.Bisolti, R.Ferrari, J.Frohlinger, A.Manan, M.Merlo, L.Pierfelici, A.Rasmussen
Vien wrote:
Sorensen to the Tirreno! Trust me, he'll have a good chance of winning Just don't over-use him!
I think he can do well too. Cunego will be tough to beat however, and I'm not sure who else wil be competing. I think the key deciding factor could be the team time trial. We have Rasmussen and Bodnar in the team but other than that, we are quite weak against the clock, so Sorenson could lose some early time.
Edited by lennybernstein on 26-06-2012 08:45
3 Mar 1.1 Giro del Fruli
Startlist: F.Aru, R.Bardet, D.Bellemakers, F.Gavazzi, S.Lander, M.Merlo, F.Negri, C.A.Sorenson
This hilly one-day race in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, close to the Slovenian border, has been running since 1974. It was a Slovakian that stole the limelight in this edition, with Peter Sagan (VI - SigaarSnor) continuing his incredible early season form to take the win.
The only rider that could stay with him was Lavazza's very own Francesco Gavazzi, taking another fine second place, his fifth podium of the year. Gavazzi is looking in great shape ahead of the Tirreno-Adriatico. Oscar Freire (Clas - Cajastur) led in a chasing group 24 seconds behind to take third.
4-6 Mar 2.1 Vuelta a la Region di Murcia
Startlist: A.Bisolti, R.Ferrari, J.Frohlinger, A.Manan, M.Merlo, L.Pierfelici, A.Rasmussen
We were looking to use this early season Spanish stage race in Murcia to build form ahead of Tirreno-Adriatico. It was also an opportunity for Rasmussen to take his first test against the clock in the final stage's time trial.
The first stage was a straightforward flat stage. A breakaway trio dashed the sprinters' hopes for a bunch finish, however, with Stuart O'Grady (Fosters Cycling Team) showing he can still perform when not on domestique duties to grab the win. Alex Rasmussen put a fine burst of speed to lead the bunch home in fourth place.
The hilly second stage to Sierra Espuña was won by home favourite Daniel Moreno (Inditex - Airbus), who also took over the yellow jersey. He narrowly beat Christian Knees (Team Vestas Wind), with Nicholas Roche (Audi-Trek) coming home third, 19 seconds down. Lavazza's best performer was Pierfelici who finished 16th.
With only 31 seconds between the top 3 of Moreno, Knees and Roche, it was all to play for in the final stage time trial. To everyone's great surprise, Roche put in the time trial performance of his life, not only gaining enough time to take yellow but also to win the stage! He beat Swedish TT specialist Gustav Larsson (Clas - Cajastur) by just one second. Rasmussen meanwhile picked up another top 5 result, finishing fifth, seven seconds behind Roche.
This one day race around the city of Siena has only been running since 2007 but is already regarded as a 'classic' by cycling fans due to the 70 kilometres of iconic gravel roads that the route includes.
This edition was dominated by the Colombia - Coldeportes team, who grabbed a famous 1-2. Björn Leukemans completed a fine solo win, 12 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergueï Ivanov and Damiano Cunego (Privatbank). Lavazza's best finisher was Gavazzi, who took a respectable tenth against a strong field.
Just don't over-use him!
