Barloworld dodges the cobbles

The Spring classics season opens with races that are famed for the quality - or lack thereof - of their roads. Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem and of course Paris-Roubaix are notorious for the cobbled sectors that routinely wreck bikes and sap riders will.

The Barloworld team says it has elected to start its Spring Classics campaign after the cobbled classics. "We've drawn up a programme that really suits the characteristics of our riders," team manager Claudio Corti said in a statement. The team rode the Three Days of De Panne to stretch its legs (its best finisher was Diego Caccia in 52nd overall) and will now tackle GP Pino Cerami on April 6 and Profronde Van Drenthe in Holland on April 8.

With those events as warm-up, the team will then support leader Igor Astarloa at Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

For GP Pino Cerami and Profronde Van Drenthe Barloworld will field Giosue Bonomi, Diego Caccia, Enrico Degano, James Perry, Mauro Facci, Rodney Green, Jeremy Maartens and Tom Southam.