There's an Italian - Lorenzo Quartucci - and a Venezuelan, an Eritrean, and a Guatemalan. A Mauritian and a Mongolian. No, this isn't the start of a joke, but rather the strong characteristic of a cycling team where riders from 13 different nationalities coexist, the Spanish professional Burgos Bh Burpellet.

Among them, our representative lives in San Sepolcro, in the province of Arezzo, is 26 years old, enters his fourth year as a professional and is coming off a 2025 that gave him two victories, one stage at the Tour of Thailand and another in Japan. "With the satisfaction of being able to raise my arms to the sky, there was a consistent performance on my part, translated into a substantial number of top tens, not just in an Asian context..." - Quartucci recalls, who in November, upon returning from vacation in Santo Domingo, had the first direct contact with the new environment -grateful for the three years spent with Solution Tech Vini Fantini, but motivated by their choice to focus on me. We found ourselves racing as opponents in a series of races, and during the Vuelta, we had a video call where they said they had me on their radar. The next step was the agreement, already finalized on October 7th, during a period when I wasn't racing, after the injury at the Giro di Romagna that forced me to end the season early. However, I followed with interest the notable performances on Italian roads by those who are now my new teammates, I'm thinking of the Venezuelan Chumil during the Trofeo Tessile Moda from Valdengo to Oropa, or the fourth place of Fagundez, Uruguayan, at the Giro del Veneto," adds Quartucci, who defines himself as an athlete with consistent performance (the aforementioned top tens attest to this), versatile in interpreting roles, also competitive in reduced group finishes, not in pure mountain stages, though we're not talking about a sprinter, even if explosiveness is needed.

After a long stint with Burgos, Victor Langellotti managed to reach Ineos. "I know the first three months of the calendar, we start with the classic Camp de Morvedre on January 23rd, in Valencian territory, I'll also race in France, starting with GP La Marseillaise, and it comforts me to know that the team is always attentive to Italian events. I'll return to Thailand, the Tour where I was third overall. From June onwards, sixth place at Giro dell'Appennino and a solid Giro di Slovenia, considering the race's standing, set the stage for my second victory in Japan, where I won The Road Race Tokyo Tama, classified 1.2 but still a success not to be underestimated, especially because afterwards I finished sixth in the overall Czech Tour in July."

Quartucci looks ahead, embracing the phase of change in his career and beyond (he'll be based in San Marino). And let's not beat around the bush when you're racing for Burgos (27th in UCI ranking and 12 victories in 2025): Does Lorenzo want a spot for the Vuelta?

"I don't want to leave anything to chance, ready to absorb every lesson from a charismatic rider like Jesus Herrada. After years in the World Tour, he made a specific choice, and in the first training camp we had in the beautiful town near Valladolid, the former Cofidis cyclist immediately appeared ready to assume the leadership that comes from three career victories at Vuelta Espana".

Burgos Bh Burpellet, a global team: not the only one, of course, we're in 2026, but they particularly care about giving space in the roster to riders from every continent (the Eritrean Kudus brought the African champion's jersey), as well as diversifying the calendar through recurring participation in races that don't only take place within the "European customs zone". However: Burgos is local by definition, closely tied to a city and a territory in Spain that has strategically and far-sightedly bet on sponsoring a team, efforts not unrelated to promoting cycle tourism, facilitated by a myriad of dedicated routes and the material and immaterial heritage guaranteed by the Vuelta a Burgos. A name, a guarantee.

How does Quartucci navigate such a Babel? "I took the opportunity to learn Spanish, even during vacation. And I know a bit of English. I like the idea of bringing a touch of Italian flavor to such a rich environment of cultures and origins".

Between training rides and walks in the fields with his beloved cocker spaniel Eolo, Lorenzo still spends a few days in the San Sepolcro district where he lives with his partner. A concluding clarification that only seemingly seems to clash with Burgos' cosmopolitan dimension: Is Quartucci Tuscan or Umbrian? He promptly avoids regional disputes: "I'm connected to Umbria (the spark with the bike struck at the Città di Castello velodrome, ed.) having lived with my family on the border with Tuscany, in a location significantly named Dogana. Born in Sansepolcro, I returned, reviving a bond that, when we talk about two wheels, also recalls my victory at the Giro delle Valli Aretine 2022". Correct answer, Tuscan-Umbrian and no one feels excluded.

Photos from the November Burgos training camp: Daniel Montes / Burgos Burpellet BH