INVITES SENT

Nippo Fantini are to return to the Giro d’Italia following a threeyear absence after the organisers awarded them one of four wildcard spots for this year’s race, along with Bardiani- CSF, AndroniGiocattoli Sidermec and Israel Cycling Academy. Riders at Paris-Nice this spring will be the irst to be tested to for

tramadol, the soon-tobe banned painkiller. The UCI’s ban comes into e fect on March 1, with the WorldTour stage race the irst where in- competition testing will take place. Tramadol has been on the UCI’s watch list since 2012. “Luke – the gentleman – said to me, ‘ You can have it,’ so I was more than happy to take it.” Team Sky’s

Owain Doull gets his irst pro win at the Herald Sun Tour, in a one-two with teammate Luke Rowe.

Seven British riders have now won stages at the race since 2014, a total only bettered by Australian riders.