After two third-place finishes in Amstel Gold and La Fleche Wallonne, Liquigas' Danilo Di Luca is looking to finish higher up on the podium in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this weekend. "Two prestigious podiums in four days represent a great result, but it's natural to have a little bitterness when you don't have the big success. You know, I'll try to take some satisfaction in Liege."
Liquigas for LBL: Danilo Di Luca, Franco Pellizotti, Vincenzo Nibali, Michael Albasani, Kjell Carlstrom, Francesco Faillik Andrea Noe and Alessandro Spezialetti.
Kim Kirchen will lead T-Mobile in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this weekend, to be backed up by Patrick Sinkewitz and Michael Rogers. "Michael is no longer hampered by the knee injury he suffered at the Pais Vasco, and is back to his old form," said Directeur Sportif Valerio Piva.
T-Mobile for LBL: Michael Barry, Scott Davis, Adam Hansen, Kim Kirchen, Axel Merckx, Sergiy Gonchar, Michael Rogers and Patrik Sinkewitz
Milram is counting on Mirko Celestino and Igor Astarloa, who "showed themselves in good condition" at the Fleche Wallonne. Astarloa especially hopes to return to form after becoming ill at Vais Pasco.
Milram for LBL: Igor Astarloa, Mirko Celestino, Mirco Lorenzetto, Andrey Grivko, Matej Jurco, Niki Terpstra, Carlo Scognamiglio, Sebastian Schwager
Michael Boogerd and Oscar Freire are heading up the Rabobank team. Boogerd is starting the race for the 12th time and has seven top five finishes. Freire is riding his sixth consecutive LBL. The team features another LBL podium winner, Pieter Weening, who was third in the U23 race in 2003.
Rabobank for LBL: Michael Boogerd, Oscar Freire, Juan Antonio Flecha, Thomas Dekker, Pieter Weening, Koos Moerenhout, Theo Eltink and Jan Boven.
