Petacchi starts 2007

After returning from vacation in Maldive, Alessandro Petacchi has commenced training. "I have a desire to train, to feel fatigued," said the Milram sprinter in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Petacchi suffered two setbacks in 2006 that resulted in a lot of time off the bike; The first was a fractured kneecap in the Giro d'Italia and the other was a fractured bone in his right hand at the Vuelta a España.

It is early November, but thoughts have shifted towards the 2007 season. Milram's team manager, Gianluigi Stanga, confirmed that his sprinter will begin his season in Qatar in late January. For 2007 Petacchi will focus on the spring classics and the grand tours.

"I can not wait to re-win [Milano-Sanremo]," confirmed the 32 year-old rider from La Spezia. "It is a unique race. [The Tour of] Flanders does not give me the same emotions, while I think I can do well in Gent-Wevelgem. Roubaix? Maybe I can respond to the pavé, but it is a further unknown."

"In 2003 I won stages in all three tours," Petacchi continued, expressing his desires to contest all three grand tours. "I am able to repeat this and the team can sustain this force."

A new addition in the Milram treno will be Australian Brett Lancaster. Lancaster, who makes his home in Pistoia, will join Milram after spending the last four years with Panaria-Navigare.

"[Lancaster is] very good," Petacchi said of the Milram addition. "He has lots of experience on the track and will not have any problems with us. In mid-December we [the sprint train] will have a training camp in Toscana."