Canadians on Amore & Vita start season at G.P. Costa degli Estruschi

The continental team Amore & Vita-Selle SMP started its season at the G.P. Costa degli Estruschi in Italy on Sunday. The team signed three Canadians to its roster for the 2014 season including Alex Cataford, James Piccoli and Michael Woods.

Simone Ponzi (Yellow Fluo) won the race ahead of his teammate Mauro Finetto and Andrea Pasqualon (Aero Zero Team). Woods placed 39th and Piccoli 124st on the day. Cataford, the under-23 time trial champion, is recovering from a crash and did not compete in the race.

Amore & Vita-Selle SMP is current registered in the Ukraine, however, is rooted in Italy’s long cycling history. The Canadian trio will gain the valuable experience of racing abroad with one of the oldest cycling teams in the world.

Phil Cortes, the team’s director, is a native of New Brunswick and has been involved in cycling as both a former racer and a director for teams Amore & Vita and Garneau-Quebecor.  He recruited Cataford, Piccoli and Woods to the team this season.

“Phil is the big reason why we have three Canadians on the team,” Woods said. “He’s been in Lucca on and off for seven years. He has ridden for this team in the past, he speaks Italian and he is well-connected in the area.  Without him, riding here, as an anglophone, would be a pretty tough transition.

“It has been one of his big goals to get Canadians exposure to the racing in Europe, under the directorship of somebody who has been in their shoes. The racing in Italy is unique, it’s hard, demanding and very competitive; that’s the reason why I’m here now, and I think why Alex and James signed with Amore & Vita too.”

The team’s racing calendar is tentative, however, they will focus on Trofeo Laigueglia, Vuelta Mexico along with UCI events throughout Italy and Europe.  At the end of May, the team will be head back to North America for the Grand Prix Cycliste de Saguenay, Tour de Beauce and the national road championships.