Domenico Pozzovivo is in line to make a record-equalling 18th look on the Giro d’Italia after signing a contract with VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè for the 2024 season.
The 41-year-old turned skilled and made his Giro debut with the crew, then generally known as Panaria-Navigare, in 2005, and he now returns to the fold for what he says will likely be his closing season within the peloton. The crew was not too long ago confirmed among the many wildcard invites to the 2024 Giro.
Pozzovivo raced with Israel Premier Tech in 2023 however he was left and not using a contract on the finish of the season, and he had initially set himself a deadline of October to discover a new crew. As a substitute, the veteran continued to coach through the winter, and he introduced his arrival at VF Group in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport on Sunday.
“It’s like one thing from a movie,” Pozzovivo informed La Gazzetta. “Whenever you begin off on a journey like this way back, and then you definitely assume that in spite of everything this time and so many episodes we’ve come collectively once more for the closing of the circle…. It sounds just like the plot of a film.”
Pozzovivo spent the primary eight seasons of his profession with Bruno Reverberi’s crew, capping his time with a stage victory at Lago Laceno on the 2012 Giro. He moved to the WorldTour with AG2R the next season, and he later raced for Bahrain, NTT, Intermarché and Israel.
The Italian positioned fifth general on the Giro in 2014 and 2018, and he impressed once more with Intermarché two years in the past, serving to Biniam Girmay to a stage win whereas driving to eighth general in Verona.
Pozzovivo confirmed that the prospect of equalling Wladimiro Panizza’s report of 18 Giro participations had performed an element in persuading him to proceed for one more yr. So too had an in the end disappointing 2023 season, when he deserted the Giro on the primary relaxation day.
“Equalling Panizza is without doubt one of the most important motivations,” Pozzovivo mentioned. “Additionally, I deserted the Giro final yr, and I wasn’t even capable of trip Il Lombardia. It might have been a really melancholy farewell. And to be clear, I’m not serious about stopping after the 2024 Giro, however on the finish of the season at Il Lombardia.”
Pozzovivo indicated his intention to begin his 2024 season at Tirreno-Adriatico – “As long as there aren’t any bureaucratic obstacles” – whereas La Gazzetta reported that the veteran had reserved a room on the Parador Lodge for a coaching camp atop Mount Teide even when he was and not using a crew.
“I really feel like an ‘previous’ man, with a really younger mindset. I’ve no drawback referring to the youthful era,” Pozzovivo mentioned of becoming a member of a crew whose promoting level is the event of younger expertise. He’ll begin the Giro in Turin on Could 4, in the meantime, with the identical ambition as ever.
“With the athletic numbers I’ve acquired, a spot within the prime ten wouldn’t be inconceivable.”
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