Ivan Basso (Liquigas - Cannondale) has been gradually building his form this season to peak in the summer with the hopes of winning the Tour de France. The Italian’s progression has been steady, finishing in the top 10 in both Ciclista a Catalunya and Tirreno - Adriatico while also picking up a victory in the GP Lugano.
Basso decided not to defend his Giro d’Italia title this year, passing up the chance to win again in order to focus all his energy on the Tour. His preparation was dealt a small blow in May while training on Mount Etna, when he crashed and injured himself. Fifteen stitches were required for his face, forcing him to take two days of rest off the bike.
He also decided to not participate in three criterium races he was invited to ride after the Giro.
The 33 year old will now return to racing with what is to be his final preparation race for the Tour, in the Criterium du Dauphine.
However, the Liquigas – Cannondale captain has made it clear that his final placing in this week’s race isn’t a priority.
“The result is not important, but how I feel is. I still have a month in order to prepare my legs,” he said.
Basso joins the likes of Cadel Evans, Alexandre Vinokourov, Robert Gesink, Bradley Wiggins, Samuel Sanchez, Tony Martin and Juergen van den Broeck who are using the race as fine-tuning for the Tour.
Last year in his second full season back from a doping suspension, Basso rode both the Giro and the Tour double. After his victory in Italy, he found the French race tough going, finishing in 32nd place overall. He’s hoping that missing the Giro will give him more reserves for week three of the Tour.
Basso, who released his autobiography this week, has twice finished on the podium in France in 2004 and 2005, while riding for Bjarne Riis’ Team CSC. Riis now has defending champion Alberto Contador on his team who despite just winning a strenuous Giro, will again be one of the favourites when the race starts on the second of July.