The Italian Liquigas-Doimo team will be heading to the Giro del Trentino next week to put the finishing touches on their preparation for their home Grand Tour, the Giro d'Itaila. Ivan Basso and Franco Pellizotti will lead the team for the four-day stage race, with Basso riding to defend his win in 2009.
"The Giro del Trentino will be an important test to confirm my condition, and to improve the quality of the movement on the bike. I really want to race and I want to perform at a very high level," explained Basso.
He expects to ride well in the event, but his focus is to be ready when he heads to Amsterdam in May.
"I’ll be at the top of my form at the beginning of the Giro d’Italia, but in Trentino I’ll have the opportunity to test myself. I hope I don't suffer too much on the 2,000 meter passage of Teide. I would like to repeat the good performance of 2009: it would be a great a boost for my morale," he admitted.
Pellizotti will also be looking to fine tune his form for his big target next month: "[The Giro del Trentino is the] perfect event to refine the condition in view of the Giro [d'Italia]. I’ll face hard climbs that will show the level of my condition."
The climber said he will use the the race to increase his endurance and work on his change of rhythm.
"I’ll run at the top of my form to support the team and take advantage of every opportunity to be protagonist," added Pellizotti.
The team will also bring Daniel Oss, who rode well in the northern Classics, as well as Valerio Agnoli, Robert Kiserlovski, Maciej Paterski, Sylwester Szmyd and Oliver Zaugg. The sports directors will be Stefano Zanatta and Paolo Slongo.