Bennati returns at Memorial Cimurri

Italian Daniele Bennati will prove that it's never too late in the season to make a comeback by racing the 4th Memorial Cimurri this weekend. The Liquigas rider has been suffering from tendonitis for much of the season and was forced to abandon the Vuelta a España after the ninth stage.

"The form is growing," said Bennati, "and now I feel better. I'm training regularly, but I know a victory will be hard. I hope that the Cimurri and the [Coppa] Sabatini [on October 9 - ed.] will perfect my form in sight of the Paris-Tours, a race that I've been longing very much to win."

Last year's winner Leonardo Bertagnolli will also be on the Liquigas roster for the race, as will Franco Pellizotti, who is coming off a third place in the Tour de Pologne. Also joining the team will be Maciej Bodnar, Francesco Chicchi, Claudio Corioni, Enrico Franzoi and Alessandro Vanotti.

On Sunday, a different portion of the Liquigas team will contest the Giro del Lazio. Vincenzo Nibali, Filippo Pozzato, who the was winner in 2005, Kjell Carlström, Vladimir Miholjevic and Gorazd Stangelj will take on the 198 kilometre race along with Valerio Agnoli, Andrea Noè, Charles Wegelius, Aleksandr Kuschynski and Matej Mugerli.