German T-Mobile Team is sending a roster of climbing specialists to the 46th Vuelta a Pais Vasco, which takes place from April 3-8 and kicks off its total of 829 kilometres in Irun on Monday. While the squad will start the Spanish ProTour race without a designated captain, directeur sportif Frans van Looy will be looking to Matthias Kessler, Patrik Sinkewitz and Kim Kirchen for results. "We will be concentrating our efforts on the individual stages," the Belgian said. "We don't count among the favourites for the overall."
The eight-man roster also includes the two Italians Giuseppe Guerini and Eddy Mazzoleni, as well as the Spaniard Oscar Sevilla - three strong climbers which will be needed on the mountainous parcours. Rounding out the team are Thomas Ziegler and Bernhard Kohl, a pure climber who has been in consistently good shape in recent weeks. Kohl spent a few days in the climbers jersey in the Tour of California and is now keen to "show what I can do" in the Basque country. "My strengths are in the high mountains," Kohl said, looking forward to the rather hilly event.
