Bahrain McLaren is targeting the Italian and Spanish road race championships on Sunday and the Spanish time trial on Friday. Sonny Colbrelli is one of the favorites to win the Italian road race, while Pero Bilbao has a good chance in the Spanish time trial.

"We will try to win a medal," sport director Xavier Florencio said in a press release Thursday about Bilbao's chances in the time trial. 'It might be hard to win, but Pero is in great form and last year he was on the podium with a silver medal.' The course is tough with a small climb at the end, but it suits him and he is very motivated."

Bahrain McLaren also has only one rider in the Spanish road race, and Florencio admitted that it will be tough for Ivan Cortina without a teammate.

"It won't be easy for him because he won't have the support of his teammates like some of his other rivals. However, Ivan feels good and is highly motivated. As for the course, it's a tough 25 kilometers with 500 meters of climbing per lap."

"The 254-km course from Bassano del Grappa to Cittadilla will feature 11 laps of a 12.5-km circuit, including the Rosina climb, which Sonny Colbrelli, Enrico Battaglin, Eros Capecchi, and Damiano Caruso will challenge.

"This course is suitable for sprinters who have tackled the climb many times in the finishing circuit and still have enough energy," explained coach Franco Pellizotti. 'It's a short climb, not too difficult, but after a couple of climbs it becomes selective.' [He's] not a pure sprinter, he's good on courses that are a bit like the Belgian Classics, with some short pave stretches.

"Sonny is in good shape and is off to a great fresh start this season. He is ready for Sunday's race and has not hidden his ambition to chase the gold medal," said Pellizotti.