The woes of the Liquigas-Doimo team continued today with the loss of star sprinter Daniele Bennati. The Tuscan from Arezzo, to the east of Florence, has not yet recovered from the muscle problem that he sustained while racing in Flanders last month. He failed to finish the second stage of the Three Days of De Panne, then abandoned the Ronde van Vlaanderen a few days later.
After the removal of Franco Pellizotti by the International Cycling Union (UCI) because of suspicious values on his biological passport, Bennati’s withdrawal leaves the Italian team’s Giro campaign in disarray. Where the team previously had a two-headed assault on the maglia rosa in Pellizotti and Ivan Basso and one of the fastest sprinters in Bennati, its race will now be all about Basso only.
Bennati has been one of the most successful Italian sprinters of recent years, winning stages in all three Grand Tours. In 2008 he won all three of his Giro stages to date, as well as taking the ciclamino points jersey. His best results in 2010 so far have been one stage win in the Tour of Oman, one in Tirreno-Adriatico and 5th place in Milano-Sanremo. He will now concentrate on recovering for the second half of the season.
Bennati’s place in Liquigas-Doimo’s Giro lineup has been taken by 26-year-old roadman-sprinter Tiziano Dall’Antonia.