Patrick Shaw leads teammate Giacoppo on stage 2.(Image credit: TriEvents)
Sam Davis takes the win for Genesys.(Image credit: Tony Lendrum/tonylendrumphotography.com)
Alex Carver from New South Wales has taken on a role with the Genesys Wealth Advisers team and will be looking for a big 2012.(Image credit: Shane Goss/licoricegallery.com)
Anthony Giacoppo lined up on the front line.(Image credit: Mark Gunter)
Going well: Anthony Giacoppo has progressed nicely for Andrew Christie-Johnston and his Genesys Wealth Advisers team. After a good year in 2011, Giacoppo has begun 2012 with a bang winning a stage of the recent Jayco Bay Cycling Classic series and now striking gold in Ballarat.(Image credit: Shane Goss/licoricegallery.com)
Off the back of overall victory at the recent Perth Criterium series in his home state of Western Australia, Anthony Giacoppo says that his form and confidence levels are at an all-time high ahead of his Genesys Wealth Advisers team's first foray to Asia for 2012 at the Tour de Taiwan.
Just two months in, Giacoppo's season has been one of superlatives, and while the 25-year-old is realistic ahead of the high level of competition in Taiwan for the seven stage race, he also has ambitions to continue his strong results.
"There are a few selective stages that suit the more versatile riders, and there I think I can definitely make a difference there," said Giacoppo. "On those smaller climbs that’s where I think I can excel, and be in the mix for the win but we'll be taking it stage by stage."
Team manager Andrew Christie-Johnston said the team had a lot of belief in Giacoppo.
"Anthony quite possibly can win the whole Tour," said Christie-Johnston. "Looking at the profiles there are a few steep climbs along the way, so we’ll be doing some specific training on that kind of terrain ahead of the start. Anthony is someone who can climb really well, particularly for someone who is a sprinter. Whether it’ll be too steep in Taiwan, time will tell.
"If you want to go WorldTour, you really can’t be a ‘pure’ sprinter, at least in Australian terms. A lot of people miss how well the fast guys at that level climb. Anthony can do that, and that’s something that’s gained him a lot of interest from other teams - and will make him a real threat for this race."
Genesys Wealth Advisers for Tour de Taiwan starting March 10: Pat Shaw (Aus), Sam Davis (Aus), Alex Carver (Aus), Ben Dyball (Aus) and Anthony Giacoppo (Aus)
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Alex Hinds is a graduate of Economics and Political Science from Sydney University. Growing up in the metropolitan area of the city he quickly became a bike junkie, dabbling in mountain and road riding. Alex raced on the road in his late teens, but with the time demands of work and university proving too much, decided not to further pursue full-time riding.
If he was going to be involved in cycling in another way the media seemed the next best bet and jumped at the opportunity to work in the Sydney office of Cyclingnews when an offer arose in early 2011.
Though the WorldTour is of course a huge point of focus throughout the year, Alex also takes a keen interest in the domestic racing scene with a view to helping foster the careers of the next generation of cycling.
When not writing for Cyclingnews Alex is a strong proponent of the awareness of cyclists on the road in Sydney having had a few close run-ins with city traffic in the past.
