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2011 TX Active-Bianchi team presented in Milan: Kerschbaumer to raise Italian ambitions worldwide

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Parent Category: News

Category: News 2011

Published on Wednesday, 09 February 2011 15:45

Written by Luca Salvatelli

TX Active-Bianchi MTB team held its official presentation today, Wednesday February 9th, at Regione Lombardia’s prestigious headquarter (Pirelli’s Skyscraper), in Milan – North of Italy.

It was a truly special presentation as Felice Gimondi’s team celebrated its 20th anniversary year in the MTB sector. Born in 1991, Bianchi MTB team is one of the most successful teams in mountain-bike world, with outstanding results under its belt, including Julien Absalon’s Olympic gold medal in 2004. All the champions who wrote important chapters of the team’s history had something really special in common: a Bianchi bike.

For 2011 season, TX Active-Bianchi will line-up 25 year-old French biker Stephane Tempier (n.12th in the UCI World Ranking), multiple Italian Champion Cristian Cominelli and Portuguese Ricardo Marinheiro. New signings are Tony Longo and youngster Gerhard Kerschbaumer, both from Italy. Kerschbaumer is widely recognized as the most talented Italian rider in the MTB sector, capable of winning a World, European and Italian Junior title in 2009. TX Active-Bianchi’s Team Manager is former professional rider Massimo Ghirotto.

TX Active-Bianchi Junior team is also made up of five bikers, having Andrea Ferrero as Junior Manager: cadets Federico Barri (2010 Italian MTB Champion), Cristian Boffelli, new-entry Chiara Teocchi, and debutants Giorgio Rossi (2011 Italian Cross Champion) and Oscar Vairetti.

TX Active-Bianchi will chase success in the major MTB and cyclo-cross competitions worldwide, taking time to nurture and grow young talents and impress a much stronger ecological awareness through ECO-sustainable sport activity. “For the third consecutive year, Italcementi support Felice Gimondi's bikers participating in the major MTB events listed on UCI's international calendar”, Italcementi Communication Manager - Italy Lorenzo Colombo stated. “The Group's international dimension is reflected in the scope of the Lombardy-based TX Active-Bianchi team, which has always valued loyalty, honesty and fair play in all sports events. We are confident that even in 2011, one year from the London Olympics, the TX Active-Bianchi team will keep Italy's flag flying”.

"We have built up a truly strong team - Team President Felice Gimondi said -, mainly focused on XC races, after the addition of new signings Longo and Kerschbaumer. We are proud to have Gerhard in our roster as he is definitely the future of the Italian MTB movement. Alongside the Top team we will continue nurturing our young talents, without seeking success at any cost, according to our drivers and values".

Bianchi's CEO Bob Ippolito attended the event in Milan. Italy-based company supply the team with Methanol SL and SX MTB high-end carbon models. "The experience from the team help us improving our technologies and products. That's why the feedback from the riders is truly important for us", Ippolito said.

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