With less than 48 hours to the start of an event like the 40th Giro del Trentino Melinda (April 19-22, 2016), pressure and expectations step on every team’s bus, but one line-up in particular is living a quite special approach to the race. For the first time, the Brazilian National Team will participate in the GS Alto Garda race, with riders still unknown to most of the cycling fans, but determined to prove themselves in Trentino.   The Team reached Italy on Friday April 15th, and already went on recognition on the opening team time trial’s route.

“Giro del Trentino Melinda is very famous in Brazil,” tells Otavio Bulgarelli, whose last name clearly hails from Italian forefathers, and who raced in Europe for one season in the Farnese Vini ranks. “We know this is the key dress rehearsal for the top Giro d’Italia contenders, so we are very happy of the opportunity to be here and race along the cream of the crop.”

It is a special year for Brazil, that will host the Olympic Games for the first time in history in a few months, and willing to play a major part also in the road cycling event: “The Olympic Games’ route is very demanding, and that’s why Giro del Trentino Melinda looked like the ideal opportunity to compete against some of the rivals we will find in Rio,” young team managerEstela Farah explained.

The team will rely on a six-man block from Brazil’s Pro Continental team Funvic-Sour Cycles, and two youngsters from the UCI World Cycling Center, Andrè Gohr and Caio Godoy. The main name will be Kleber Ramos, stage winner at 2015 Tour de San Luis and seventh in the Rio’s Pre-Olympic race: “We know that European cycling is a different story from the Brazilian, one, where most of the races are suited for sprinters, but the goal of Team Funvic’s project is to make us compete in top cycling so that we can lead the growth of our national movement. It will be a tough challenge, but one we will take in with enthusiasm and determination.”

Brazil won’t be the only National outfit at the start. The Italian National Team will also line-up in Riva del Garda, with a team made of professional and Under 23 riders, managed by Davide Cassani and with Mauro Finetto as captain.