Team Milram and Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo named their nine-men squads to compete in the centennial Giro d'Italia.
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Team Milram and Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo named their nine-men squads to compete in the centennial Giro d'Italia. The three-week stage race starts with a team time trial Saturday in Venice.
Team Milram: The German team will be led by Robert Förster and Markus Fothen, each seeking stage wins, and the climber Thomas Rohregger, the 2008 Tour of Austria winner and the squad's general classification hopeful. The remainder of the roster includes Germans Thomas Fothen, Martin Müller, Matthias Ruß, Ronny Scholz and Björn Schröder and Italian Luca Barla.
"I have made a lot of plans for the Giro and hope for a good placing in the overall ranking," said Rohregger, who will be making his debut at the Giro d'Italia. "I am totally healthy and felt strong at the Tour de Romandie. In addition, I will be especially motivated for the stages which go through my Tyrolian homeland. The Giro is my first Grand Tour and is certainly a highlight for every rider."
Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo: Stefano Garzelli, the 2000 Giro d'Italia champion, will lead the team with the support of Dario Andriotto, Massimo Codol, Alessandro Donati, Francesco Failli, Ruggero Marzoli, Andrea Masciarelli, Francesco Masciarelli and Giuseppe Palumbo.
"We have a very united team," said Bruno Cenghialta, directeur sportif. "We completed our choices after the last two races in Tuscany and we believe heavily in this squad. Garzelli is in shape and has a competitive team to support him. Francesco Masciarelli, making his Giro d'Italia debut, is very motivated . Since it is his first Giro experience there will not be any particular pressure placed on him."
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Based in the southeastern United States, Peter produces race coverage for all disciplines, edits news and writes features. The New Jersey native has 30 years of road racing and cyclo-cross experience, starting in the early 1980s as a Junior in the days of toe clips and leather hairnets. Over the years he's had the good fortune to race throughout the United States and has competed in national championships for both road and 'cross in the Junior and Masters categories. The passion for cycling started young, as before he switched to the road Peter's mission in life was catching big air on his BMX bike.
