One of the most promising riders on the U23 scene, the Italian is our squad’s first transfer for next season.
Victorious this season at the prestigious Ronde de l’Isard, where he captured two back-to-back stage wins on his way to overall glory, Andrea Bagioli will turn pro in 2020 after agreeing on a two-year contract with the UCI World Team Classification leader.
Hailing from the province of Sondrio, the now 20-year-old has shown early inklings of his climbing prowess, finishing in the top 10 at the Course de la Paix and Giro della Lunigiana, before making the step to the U23 ranks, where he enjoyed a consistent 2018 season, winning Toscana Terra di Ciclismo (plus one stage and two auxiliary classifications) and finishing runner-up at both Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Piccolo Lombardia.
This year, as part of Team Colpack, he kept hitting new heights, his resounding triumph at the Ronde de l’Isard and convincing solo win at the 59th edition of the Trofeo Città di San Vendemiano serving as confirmation of the beyond his years maturity and qualities he possesses whenever the road starts to rise.
“I’m over the moon, it’s a dream come true! It was my goal to be a professional rider and knowing that I will be part of the Wolfpack is fantastic. I can’t wait to meet the team at the end of the season and have a first contact with the riders and staff. I am extremely motivated to start my pro career and do my best next year to repay the confidence that Mister Lefevere and the team have put in me”, said a delighted Andrea, who was full of praise also for those who have supported him in his career. “I would like to thank my family for always being there for me, to Team Colpack, the staff and the president, Mister Beppe Colleoni. I had a great time with them and grew a lot as a rider with their help.”
Deceuninck – Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere talked of how this transfer is in line with the squad’s long and successful tradition of putting its trust in the young prospects: “When we spot a rider whose innate qualities and mentality catch our eye, we do everything that we can to sign him. This was the case also with Andrea, who we have been monitoring for some time now and whose results – especially on the climbs, where he has excelled – we’ve found to be extremely impressive. As you know, we always look to promote young and promising talents and give them a chance. Just look over our current roster, eleven riders have turned pro with this structure. We believe in them, but more importantly, we offer them the perfect environment to develop and find their place in the rigorous pro world, and Andrea is the latest example of this tradition that we have built over the years.”
Photo credit: ©Sigfrid Eggers