THE ASTANA PRO TEAM AND NORTHWAVE TOGETHER WIN THE FIRST EDITION OF THE 2020 VIRTUAL GIRO D’ITALIA

After seven stages the Astana Pro Team ended the Giro d’Italia winning two stages and three second places. Since the first day, the Kazakh team obtained the Maglia Rosa and have been able to wear it until the final stage. From the 18th of April until the 9th of May, every Wednesday and Saturday, the riders fought virtually at the “Giro Virtual” for the Maglia Rosa. Every stage of the seven stages were the final parts of the original stages of the Corsa Rosa 2020. The virtual race started with a stage finishing in Tortoreto followed by Cesenatico, San Daniele del Friuli further the race went up to the Madonna di Campiglio towards Laghi di Cancano up to Sestriere. And had its big showdown with a virtual time trial to Milano. The opening stage covered 32,1km and Astana Pro Team rider Alexey Lutsenko put in the fastest time. He took the win with a time of 44 minutes and 41 seconds. Teammate Davide Martinelli finished in third place, after 50:23 minutes. The Astana Pro Team and NORTHWAVE, stage by stage, were able to keep the Maglia Rosa till the final stage (Time trial in Milan - 15km) of the first edition of the Giro Virtual. Davide Martinelli finished his time trial in fourth overall position, 1’21” down on Filippo Ganna (22'31", individual best time) while his teammate Manuele Boaro took fifth. A great result that allowed to Astana Pro Team to win the Overall 2020 Virtual Giro d’Italia ranking! "We are really happy with the overall win, even if it was a virtual one. We got the virtual Maglia Rosa on day one and were able to retain it until the final stage, that is a nice feeling. Of course, it is completely different than to ride the Giro on the roads. The stages might have been short but super intense so it was a great training for me. For sure I will include that in my upcoming training schedule, but I still prefer riding and racing on the roads. However, it was the perfect opportunity to have a tough training and also to show our colors and sponsors, who are supporting us in these difficult times. We worked as a team together, had support from our teammates and coaches in our WhatsApp group, and motivated each other. All in all, it was a nice experience and the organization did a great job and we are happy to bring this win to the main partner Samruk-Kazyna, all sponsors and our fans around the world." – Jakob Fuglsang "It is nice to have won the Giro Virtual. It might have been a virtual race, nevertheless, it was not an easy one. The stages were on the paper short but intense. Our riders gave their all and we all worked together and took our participation seriously. Especially, for our sponsors we are happy to have been able to give them a platform to be seen. We are grateful to our main partner Samruk-Kazyna as well as all other sponsors, who are supporting us in this difficult time, we are all living right now. Therefore, the virtual race was a great opportunity to show our sponsors and our riders had a kind of race feeling again. But also, the organization of the Giro d’Italia did a great race, the organization was perfect." – Dmitriy Fofonov, Team Manager.