Good week for Barloworld

Barloworld hopes it has set the precedence for a successful season with the races last week, where the team claimed several good results. Robert Hunter notably had several placing and won a stage in the Tour Méditerranéen. In that same race Barloworld also finished third in the team time trial, just four seconds behind Caisse d'Epargne.

On the final day, which finished on the difficult Mont Faron climb above Toulon, Mauricio Soler and Chris Froome finished second and third. Before the stage race in France, Robert Hunter finished third in the GP degli Etruschi.

Team Manager Claudio Corti was content. "We're still hungry for success but we're obviously very satisfied with our start to the season," Corti said. "Our results confirm that this team deserves to take part in all the major international races on the calendar, both stage races and one-day Classics."

Corti specifically mentioned the young riders, with neo-pro Michele Merlo took third place in the stage one sprint of the Giro della Provincia di Grosseto. "What makes me especially happy is our decision to give our talented young riders the possibility to show what they can do," Corti said.

But Corti also praised the experienced riders for showing their form early in the season. "Mauricio Soler's return to form is also very pleasing; when he's going well he can rival anyone in the mountains."

Corti was especially happy that adverse circumstances did not affect the team. "Not even the theft of the bikes during the training camp in Tuscany dented our morale and that was a very encouraging sign," Corti said.