Giro d'Italia invites initial 20 teams

Ivan Basso and his Liquigas team will compete in the 2009 Giro

Ivan Basso and his Liquigas team will compete in the 2009 Giro (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Fourteen of the 18 licensed ProTour teams and six Professional Continental teams have been invited by organizers RCS Sport to this year's centennial Giro d'Italia from May 9 to 31.