The victory of Sonny Colbrelli at the Benelux Tour (the first Italian to do it in the history of the competition), in addition to making the fantamanagers who chose him happy, strengthens the blue hopes for the European championships in Trentino scheduled for next Sunday and for the World Cup in Belgium two weeks later on routes very suitable for the Brescia rider.

Colbrelli will be the top runner of the Azzurri team for the European Championship (in a race that measures 179 km) in search of a resounding poker of successes after those of Trentin (2018), Viviani (2019) and Nizzolo (2020). At his side a team ready to support him and play other cards in case of difficulty of the captain. Technical commissioner Davide Cassani called, in addition to Colbrelli, Giovanni Aleotti, Mattia Cattaneo, Gianni Moscon, Matteo Trentin, Filippo Ganna, Andrea Bagioli and Diego Ulissi. Vincenzo Albanese and Alessandro Covi will be the reserves. Right choices?

If we look at the points scored so far by the Italians at the Fantacycling, the answer is positive. Here are the top ten:

Sonny Colbrelli 2526 points

Damiano Caruso 1867

Mattia Cattaneo 1304

James Nizzolo 1253

Matthew Trentin 1144

John 826

David 793

Philip Ganna 780

Alessandro Covi 647

Andrea Vendrame 627

Five out of eight will be at the start of Trento. I am only missing   Damiano Caruso , second in the Giro and winner of a stage at the Vuelta (which should run the Italian races in October) as well as Giacomo Nizzolo and Davide Ballerini, who will still be part of the team for the World Cup. Among those called up for the European Championship who have obtained fewer points are the youngster   Aleotti (264 points) and the expert   Moscon   (430). Much is also expected from   Bagioli (415), returned to racing at the Vuelta after a long period of stoppage due to injury and protagonist with a second and a third stage place.

It is then impossible not to mention the commitment that awaits   Filippo Ganna , Olympic track champion and world time trial gold in 2020, in the time trial in Belgium, where he will be one of the favorites together with the hosts. In this case the points to arrive are practically certain.

So is it right to focus on the Azzurri for the two races and the season finale with other classics that will give many points such as the Giro di Lombardia and Paris-Roubaix? Looking at the numbers, and with Italian pride, we answer with a convinced YES.

Fantamanager, go wild!

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