Ivo Oliveira Captures Three National Track Titles
Portugal’s Ivo Oliveira rode away with three of four national elite titles on the track over the weekend to score the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team’s first victories of the 2017 season.
The 20-year-old won the omnium, the individual pursuit and the points race at the Sangalhos National Velodrome. The only race he did not win on the 250-meter indoor, laminated wooden track was the scratch race. In that event, João Matias took the victory while Ivo’s twin brother, Rui, earned the silver medal to go along with a bronze he earned in the omnium.
Ivo said the team’s training camp in mid-January in Southern California provided a solid springboard for his performances.
“It was a great weekend of racing on a nice level with strong riders,” he said. “I was so happy and proud to win my first races of the season with my new jersey. The team camp was a great motivation for nationals and for the next races that are coming.”
Ivo Oliveira is one of eight riders new to Axeon Hagens Berman. (Federação Portuguesa de Ciclismo photo.)
Narvaez Scores First Road Win Of 2017
Jhonatan Narvaez scored the Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team’s first road race victory of the season Saturday when he soloed to win the second stage of the Clásica Huaca in his home country of Ecuador.
Narvaez won the 123 km race with an unusual tactic.
“It was nice to win because I made many attacks in the mountains,” the 19-year-old said. “But my winning attack was actually made on the downhill.”
Narvaez is the reigning Under 23 national time trial champion and is in his first season with the team.
First Team Race in February
Axeon Hagens Berman will formally open its season of team racing with the 34th edition of Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal. The five-day race is part of the UCI Europe Tour and begins Feb. 22. Last year, Axeon Hagens Berman placed three riders in the top 12 of the overall standings to win the team classification.
The omnium podium at Portuguese nationals featured Axeon Hagens Berman’s Ivo Oliveira and his gold medal (center) and his twin brother, Rui (right), who took home bronze. (Federação Portuguesa de Ciclismo photo.)
About Axeon Hagens Berman
The Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team represents the next generation of professional cyclists. Founded in 2009 by former professional cyclist and Olympic bronze medalist Axel Merckx, we are cycling’s premier development program. Through our first eight seasons, we have advanced 21 riders to the WorldTour ranks. Axeon Hagens Berman team and staff work diligently to ensure our program remains the best. Through careful rider selection, instruction and guidance, we annually achieve winning results for a vibrant and original brand that represents the future of the sport. We give future stars their shot to ride against WorldTour teams and prove themselves. #PROVEIT
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