Basso will race Liège-Bastogne-Liège (Image credit: Riccardo Scanferla)
Ivan Basso announced he will race the one-day Classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 26. The Italian of Liquigas will travel to Belgium for the race immediately after the Giro del Trentino, which ends the day before in Italy.
"It's a Classic that you can't pass up," he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday. "It is suited to my characteristics. I have always done well there."
The cyclist from Varese finished third in 2002 when he raced for Fassa Bortolo. Basso placed 10th in his last participation, 2006. That year he was involved in the Operación Puerto doping investigation. He served a subsequent two-year suspension and returned to racing this in the fall of 2008.
The journey north will be well coordinated with the team. After the four-day Giro del Trentino stage race, April 22 to 25, there will only be a few hours to travel to Liège for the start of the 250-kilometre race. "That night we will travel with a private jet arranged by Liquigas."
Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) organises the Tour de France as well as Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Basso ruled out racing the French Grand Tour in his first season back.
Basso starts the Tirreno-Adriatico, March 11 to 17, today. He plans on training at altitude on the Spanish island of Tenerife, April 3 to 17. He will race the GP Nobili the day after returning, April 18, and then the Giro d'Italia, May 9 to 31.
