Mark Cavendish might be joined by Michael Mørkøv and the core of his revamped Astana Qazaqstan lead-out practice when he begins his season at subsequent month’s Tour Colombia 2.1.
The Manxman already confirmed his participation within the race in December, and the Colombian Biking Federation has revealed the total line-up that can accompany Cavendish within the six-day occasion, which takes place from February 6-11.
Cavendish will have the ability to depend on the assist of Mørkøv, Cees Bol and Davide Ballerini, the three riders who’re more likely to kind the core of his dash practice on the Tour de France in July. The Astana Qazaqstan sextet is accomplished by Alexey Lutsenko and residential rider Harold Tejada.
The race is ready to be Mørkøv’s first for Astana since arriving from Soudal-QuickStep through the low season. Ballerini, who beforehand spent a season with Astana in 2019, additionally re-joined the staff from QuickStep this winter.
“I’m a part of the Cavendish group for the Tour and I can’t anticipate us to begin racing,” Ballerini informed BiciPro final month. “After we go to the coaching camp in Colombia after which once we begin to take a look at the practice [in races], we’ll have an concept of how we’ve labored.”
Cavendish and his teammates are set to spend nearly a month in Colombia. The Colombian Biking Federation notes that they base themselves in Rionegro, close to Medellín, for every week after their arrival on January 15, earlier than shifting on to the division of Boyacá forward of the race.
In response to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cavendish is more likely to journey the UAE Tour in late February earlier than racing at Tirreno-Adriatico in March.
Astana Qazaqstan are one among three WorldTour groups lining up within the Tour Colombia, alongside Movistar and EF Training-EasyPost. Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) is ready to journey as a part of a Colombian nationwide choice that will additionally characteristic the Bora-Hansgrohe duo of Sergio Higuita and Daníel Martínez.
The Tour Colombia returns to the calendar after a three-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic and funding points, and the occasion will happen at excessive altitude within the departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca.
The opening phases are centred round Tunja and Duitama, the positioning of the 1995 World Championships, whereas the race may also go to Egan Bernal’s hometown of Zipaquirá. There’s a summit end on Alto del Vino on the penultimate day forward of the ultimate stage to Bogotá.