Lampre-Caffita has named its line up for the Vuelta a España, and it includes Giro runner-up Gilberto Simoni, who had doubts about participating. "We will go to the Vuelta with a complete and competitive team: Simoni, helped by Vila, Szmyd and Marzano, for general classification and Figueras, Glomser and the sprinter Bonomi for the stage wins," said team director Maurizio Piovani.
Simoni has raced in three Vueltas and won two stages in 2000 and 2001. "The Vuelta is a very particular race: the stages are short, nervous and very animated," he said. "Usually the competition is hard for the climbers because the Spanish riders are natural climbers and they want to do well at home. It is difficult to invent something and attack from a long way out because their teams used to control it - but maybe this will change with the Pro Tour. In the first week I want to see how I am and understand how my rivals are. Then, I hope to do well!"
