Barloworld ready for Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo

With a busy spring of racing coming up, Team Barloworld is keen to test its form in Switzerland this weekend at the GP di Chiasso on Saturday, February 25 and then the GP di Lugano on Sunday, February 26.

The results obtained so far this season, including a third place by Mauro Facci in the Classic Haribo in France, have allowed team manager Claudio Corti to plan a busy March and April. The South African-sponsored and British-registered team will take part in all the races organised by RCS Sport in Italy, including the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race and the Milan-Sanremo one-day classic.

After the Italian races Team Barloworld will head to Belgium for the spring classics, with the team already invited to ride the Amstel Gold Race, Fleche-Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"We're really satisfied with the races we're about ride, because the team has earned the right to be in them with some strong riding," Corti explained. "They're big and very prestigious races and is a great start for the Barloworld team and very important for the long term plans we're working on for the future."

In Switzerland the team will race with the following riders: Igor Astarloa, who has for now recovered from his hand tendon problems, Gianpaolo Cheula, Mads Christensen, Alex Efimkin, Mauro Facci, Rodney Green, Tiaan Kannemeyer and Jeremy Maartens. Alberto Volpi will direct the team.