Basso wants world championships

Italian Ivan Basso has decided to go for a Stephen Roche-like triple, the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and the world championships. The newly signed Discovery Channel rider will eye the time trial in Stuttgart, Germany this September 27.

"I decided to elongate my season up through September for the time trial world championships in Stuttgart," said the rider from Varese to AGR. "This will serve as a proving ground for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing."

Basso honed his time trialing skills under the guidance of Bjarne Riis in his tenure at CSC, which ended this last summer when the two mutually terminated the contract due to the rider's alleged links to Eufemiano Fuentes and Operación Puerto. In joining Discovery Channel, Basso will be able to advance his skills even further with the help of Team Manager Johann Bruyneel and seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong.

Basso added, "The German worlds time trial will be the fundamental verification of the level that will need to be reached for the Olympics, and also to solidify my consideration in the national team of Sandro Callari."