The 12th Gran Premio Costa degli Etruschi will officially open the Italian season when it is raced on February 10. The organisers expect a star-studded field for the race, a 193 kilometre affair from San Vincenzo to Donoratico (Livorno). The parcours is a flat affair that favours the sprinters, as witnessed in its honour role; names like Alessandro Petacchi and retired Mario Cipollini.
Petacchi will return this year, facing a strong field of riders. Some of the big names lining up in San Vincenzo will include Daniele Bennati, Fabio Baldato (Lampre-Fondital) Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas), Luciano Pagliarini (Saunier Duval-Prodir), Tom Steels (Predictor-Lotto) and Paride Grillo (Panaria).
