Team Barloworld will field a young, but competitive team with several riders from the Tour de France and two new stagiaires, in the Giro delle Tre Regioni triptych in Italy from August 1 to 3.
The G.P. Carnaghese, the G.P. Nobili Rubinetterie and the Giro dell’Appenino races have combined for a new format this year and for a new place on the calendar, creating creating three days of intense racing in the Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria regions of northwest Italy.
For the first two races, directeur sportif Alberto Volpi will direct a team that includes strong climbers Chris Froome, Giampaolo Cheula and John-Lee Augustyn. Augustyn was the first rider to the summit of the Col de la Bonette, the highest climb in the 2008 Tour de France. Sprinter Robert Hunter will also be in the line-up in case of a sprint finish, while Austrian National Champion Christian Pfannberger is also well suited to the difficult race route.
23 year-old climber and Italian Michele Gaia (UC Bergamasca), who finished second in the 2007 Under 23 Italian Road Championship, and Australian David Tanner (Velo Club La Pomme Marseill), who was recommended by Baden Cooke for his all-round ability, will join the team as stagiaires.
Froome and Cheula showed their form in the mountain stages of the Tour de France and will play their chances at the Giro dell'Appennino, with its selective route including the Passo della Bocchetta, which almost always decides the race.
