It’s taken victories in Argentina and Malaysia this season, but a bid by the Androni Giocattoli squad to chase a big result in India has been foiled. The Italian team was hoping to resolve visa issues in order to take part in the Tour de Mumbai races. However it has now run out of time to do so.
General manager Gianni Savio told VeloNation that the team would miss the races this season. “As far as the Tour of Mumbai is concerned, unfortunately we will not be able to participate because, being abroad, we could not give the Indian Embassy our passports to get the necessary visas,” he said.
The event comprises two 1.1-ranked contests, taking place on February 11th and 13th. Amongst the squads confirmed are the ProTeams Liquigas and RadioShack, as well as the American Pro Continental squad Team Type 1.
Thus far this season, Savio’s riders have picked up several good results. They have clocked up five wins: Jonathan Monsalve nabbed the prestigious Genting Highland stage of the Tour de Langkawi plus the overall classification, and Roberto Ferrari and Jose Serpa took three stages between them in the Tour de San Luis.
Serpa was also second overall in Argentina and also second in the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, while three days ago Ferrari Emanuele Sella was the runner-up in the GP Costa degli Etrushci.
With the Tour de Mumbai not now on the agenda, the team will continue to focus on Italian racing. It is aiming to take a top result in the Giro d’Italia with Jose Rujano, who was third overall in 2005. He also took a stage win plus the mountains title.