Training is over for Giro champion, it’s time for racing to begin
The training camps are now over for 2010 Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) and after last month’s Tour de San Luis in Argentina, he is ready to start his European season this Saturday at the Trofeo Laigueglia on the Ligurian coast. The Italian is anxious to get racing in front of his home crowd once more.
“The warmth of the Italian public always gives you a real thrill,” said the rider from Varese. “With the spring races coming up, the Trofeo Laigueglia will be an important step for me. I’m fresh from two weeks’ training in the mountains so I’ll need time to adjust before I can get the most from all our work.
“I’m itching to race and get back to competing,” he added. “Now that the foundations of my preparations are laid, I can concentrate on specific workouts to increase my strength and improve my pedal stroke. So you could say that the Laigueglia comes at just the right time for me.”
Young Liquigas-Cannondale riders Damiano Caruso, Maciej Paterski and Simone Ponzi have all been at a training camp with Basso in Monte Tiede recently, and sports director Stefano Zanatta feels that the rolling course will be just right for these riders to take advantage of.
“They’ve put in a lot of hard work, and shown immense commitment and dedication,” said Zanatta. “The indications from our latest tests are encouraging. The team has a great deal of trust in these young riders. Now they’re preparing a programme that will make them competitive in the spring races: the Laigueglia Trophy will be a terrific opportunity for them.
Peter Sagan was one of the team’s most successful riders last season, with victories and podiums in a number of races. Zanatta feels that the terrain of the Trofeo Laigueglia could suit him especially well.
“[Sagan] was one of the best riders in the first race in Donoratico [GP Costa degli Etruschi – Ed] and showed an excellent pedal stroke,” he said. “The race finale is suited to finisseurs so it’s the ideal terrain for him.”