Israel – Premier Tech is looking to continue the team’s strong start to the 2024 season in UAE Tour, bringing a versatile roster with both sprinters and climbers to the WorldTour stage race.
“The team has had a great start to the year with victories in Australia and France already. For UAE Tour, we have riders capable of shining in both the sprints and the mountains so our goal is to keep the momentum going and do a great race here”, sports director Rene Mandri explains.
Leading the team in the sprints, while making his IPT debut, is Pascal Ackermann and the fast German is eager start his IPT adventure on a strong note.
“This will be my first race with my new teammates and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s also my first chance to see how the shape really is after a long and hard training period and I can’t wait to get started”, Ackermann says.
While Ackermann is focusing on the sprints, George Bennett and Matthew Riccitello, will be the team’s cards to play for the mountain top finishes on stage 3 and 7.
“I’m really looking forward to getting my 2024 season under way”, Riccitello tells. “We have just had a good altitude training camp and I feel the legs are coming around nicely. The UAE Tour is a race I really enjoy and I’m happy to be back here racing again.”
The UAE Tour starts on Monday, February 19, and finishes again on the following Sunday, February 25.
IPT at the UAE Tour
Riders: Pascal Ackermann (GER), George Bennett (NZL), Oded Kogut (ISR), Matthew Riccitello (USA), Mads Würtz Schmidt (DEN), Michael Schwarzmann (GER), Rick Zabel (GER).
Sports directors: Rene Mandri, Rene Andrle.
