Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli finalises Giro picks

Team Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli selected its men for the 2008 Giro d'Italia, which will take place from May 10 to June 1. Gilberto Simoni, who won Corsa Rosa in 2001 and 2003, will captain the squad with the goal of winning the race for the third time in his career. If the 36 year-old climber succeeds, he would become the oldest winner ever of the Italian three-week race.

'Gibo' will be joined by a strong team, composed of experts – Alessandro Bertolini, Niklas Axelsson, Danilo Hondo, Gabriele Missaglia and Daniele Nardello – and younger riders – Raffaele Illiano, Carlos José Ochoa and José Serpa. Leonardo Moser, who broke his left collarbone in the Folgaria's stage at Giro del Trentino, is forced to miss the Giro d'Italia.

"This wasn't an easy choice for me and Marco Bellini," said Gianni Savio, team manager of Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli. "We were forced to leave at home riders who would have deserved to be at the Giro. But this is a hard race, that will start with a team time trial. And we have to do everything we can to protect our leader, so we think this is the best squad for us."

Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli for the Giro d'Italia: Gilberto Simoni, Alessandro Bertolini, Niklas Axelsson, Danilo Hondo, Gabriele Missaglia, Daniele Nardello, Raffaele Illiano, Carlos José Ochoa and José Serpa. (RG)