Novoa to debut with CSC

Joaquin Novoa will make his debut as stagiaire with Team CSC at the Coppa Sabatini at the Stadio Comunale in Peccioli. Novoa comes in under the recommendation of compatriot Carlos Sastre has been preparing for the upcoming Italian races.

"I'm honored to be given this opportunity and I'm highly motivated to work extremely hard for the team," said the Novoa according to team-csc.com.

"He's a big guy, who's both good on the climbs and at the front of the peloton during a flat stretch," said Sastre, who noticed the promising Novoa while at home in Spain. "He's one of the best amateurs in Spain, which he proved by taking 30 top-10 spots last year and 41 this year, so I think he's got the right skills to become a great pro rider."

The two have trained together during the last two years on a regular basis, but the Italian races will likely be an eye-opening experience for the stagiaire.

"He knows he'll have to work really hard and these races will enable us to check him out a bit and see, what he's made off. It'll be exciting and I'm very confident on his behalf," said Sastre.

CSC for Coppa Sabatini, Giro dell'Emilia and the GP Beghelli: Joaquin Novoa, Carlos Sastre, Fränk and Andy Schleck, Chris Anker Sørensen, Alexandr Kolobnev and Anders Lund.