Di Luca returns to racing, Bettini rests

Giro d'Italia champion Danilo Di Luca will be back in competition at this weekend's Clasica San Sebastián in Spain on August 4. Di Luca will head up the team directed by team manager Mario Scirea along with Michael Albasini, Manuel Beltrán, Leonardo Bertagnolli, Kjell Carlström, Murilo Fischer, Aleksandr Kuschynski and Alessandro Spezialetti.

On Sunday, Paris-Nice stage winner Franco Pellizotti will lead the Liquigas team in the Giro dell'Appennino with Eros Capecchi, Dario Cataldo, Francesco Failli, Matej Mugerli, Andrea Noè, Roberto Petito and Charles Wegelius under direction of team manager Mario Chiesa.

One rider who won't be taking part in the Clasica San Sebastián is World Champion Paolo Bettini. The Italian is suffering from tendonitis in his left knee, an injury that has forced him to pull out of the Tour de Wallonie. On advice from his team doctors, Bettini will take a short period of rest in order to prepare for the Deutschland Tour (10-18 August).

Leading the Quick.Step-Innergetic team in his place with be Carlos Barredo along with Mauro Facci, Addy Engels, Juan Manuel Garate, Bram Tankink, Jurgen Van De Walle, Giovanni Visconti, and Tour stage winner Cedric Vasseur.