Tricolour jersey too important to leave out
His team was passed over this season, but Italian champion Giovanni Visconti has been assured by Giro d’Italia race organiser Angelo Zomegnan that he and the Farnese Vini squad will be present in the race next May.
Visconti took his second Italian title in June. Holding the national champion’s jersey in a historically significant year means that an invitation will be extended to the team, which was called ISD-Neri this season.
“Giovanni Visconti will start the 2011 Giro d’Italia, which will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy,” said Zomegnan, according to Sykkelnytt.no. “We cannot be without the Maglia Tricolore in this edition of the Corsa Rosa.”
The news is a huge relief for the Pro Continental team, which had hoped to secure an invite this year due to Visconti’s presence and the victorious Tour de Langkawi performance by José Rujano. Being passed over was a major blow to the team, which refocused and set the Italian nationals as a replacement target. Visconti’s victory there helped show that they were worthy of a place.
“I have no words. I’ve already got the first victory of 2011,” said the 27 year old, referring to the invite. “The Giro d’Italia is the most exciting race on the calendar and going back to Sicily [where he was born and raised – ed.] means it will be even more intense.”
Visconti had a fine year, netting that national title and also winning two stages plus the overall victory in the Tour of Turkey, the first stage of the Tour of Luxembourg and first in the Classica Sarda Olbia_Pantagia. He was also second overall in the Tour of Slovenia.
Being successful in the 2011 Giro is a big goal for him. “With the tricolour-shirt on my back, I’ll be at my best. I have to thank Zomegnan for his rfaith in me. We will do our best to show that we are worth the chance of winning at least one stage, and showing prominently in others.”