First points towards Rio 2016
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan’s first continental team Synergy Baku Cycling Project has gained first points to Rio 2016 at the UCI 1.2 Izola Grand Prix, the one-day race in Croatia.
During the race, Maxim Averin registered the best result among 8 of his team mates. He recorded this success with 10 points by taking fifth, and he lost just 1 min 14 seconds to the winner at the distance of 160.3 km. Averin also came second in the sprint race.
It is important to note that UCI ranking will be calculate by using teams' results two year back until May 2016, leaving but a short window before the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Earlier, the Synergy Baku Cycling Project said they are ready to tackle the 2015 season – the biggest season of its young life. The team’s biggest goal this year is to qualify Azerbaijan for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
There are 14 riders on the team this year including Elgun Alizada, Elchin Asadov, Enver Asanov, Maksym Averin, Markus Eibegger, Ismail Ilyasov, Tural Isgandarov, Aqshin Ismayilov, Samir Jabrayilov, Matej Mugerli, Alexandr Pliuschin, Oleksandr Surutkovych, Ioannis Tamouridis and Dennis van Winden.
Another contingent of the team will head to Asia, starting with the Hors Class Tour de Langkawi on March 8-15 and the Tour de Taiwan on March 22-26. The team will look to consolidate on its successes there.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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