Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team makes 2023 race debut at the Saudi Tour

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Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM MAKES 2023 RACING DEBUT AT SAUDI TOUR

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will make its 2023 racing debut next week at the Saudi Tour (Jan 30 – Feb 3) with a diverse and ambitious seven-rider squad.

27 January 2023

The Swiss-registered team will take on the five-stage UCI 2.1 race in Saudi Arabia with a strong roster and clear goal of being competitive on each of the stages and of making a strong first impression in the Q36.5 jersey.

Three sprint stages and two hillier stages are up for grabs in a race that is typically held in sweltering temperatures and where the desert wind is often the catalyst for the infamous echelons.

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will be represented by a multicultural roster spearheaded by Brit Mark Donovan, Italian Alessandro Fedeli and Polish sprinter Szymon Sajnok. The three will be the team’s protected riders and will look for their chances to fight for a top result throughout the week in the desert.

Experienced New-Zealander Jack Bauer and American Joey Rosskopf will play a crucial support role on the flat terrain, whereas Polish Kamil Małecki brings climbing firepower for the hillier stages. The seven-rider roster is completed with former Canadian champion Nick Zukowsky, whose versatility and previous experience racing in the Saudi Tour will prove invaluable all week.

Ready and Eager

“This will be our first race of the season and we’re eager to show our jersey, race aggressively and make our partners proud. We’re bringing a strong team and our main objective is to take a stage win. Szymon Sajnok will be our card for the sprint stages while both Donovan and Fedeli will aim for the uphill finishes. This will be a competitive race but we’re confident that we can leave our mark and start the 2023 season on a good note,” said Gabriele Missaglia, DS at Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

“The Saudi Tour will be the curtain raiser for our team and the first time to pin numbers onto our technology advanced Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team jersey. We are fully committed to start our journey of #RacingTheFuture in the best possible way. The team is strong, ready and united and I truly believe that will propel us to achieve great results and do our sponsors and our fans proud. We have options to fight for victory in all stages and come away with a nice result that will set the momentum for what will be a very busy Spring of racing,” added Doug Ryder, General Manager of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

Racing at the Saudi Tour for the first time in his career 26-year-old Italian Alessandro Fedeli believes the race will serve up good opportunities to show his early season form and his looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“The Saudi Tour is a great race to start the season. Personally, I really enjoy to start racing outside of Europe, in sunny, warmer locations. I will be my first time in Saudi Arabia so I’m excited to visit a new country and discover a new culture. I’m in good shape and very motivated for this race where I will try to do my best. I believe we can achieve a good result and get a stage win,” said Fedeli.

Five Exciting Stages

The Saudi Tour covers a total distance of 830 km over the course of five days with Stage 1 starting in Alula Airport and finishing in Khaybar providing a flat opener suited for the fast men in the peloton. Stage 2 from Winter Park to Shalal Sijlyat Rocks will be the longest of the race with 184km and will serve up another chance for a bunch sprint finale.The race enters hillier terrain on Stage 3 from Al Manshiyah to Abu Rakah and the uphill finale will certainly bring the General Classification contenders to the fore. A steep short climb within the final 15 km of the penultimate stage from Maraya to Skyviews of Harrat Uwairid will provide the perfect backdrop for the punchier climbers to take their chances and seize stage glory. The Saudi Tour concludes on Friday, February 3rd with a sprinter friendly Stage 5 from Alula Old Town to Maraya.

Gabriele Missaglia and Piotr Wadecki will be Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team’s DS’s for the Saudi Tour, a race which will be televised internationally on Eurosport, GCN and other major sport broadcasters.