Gerolsteiner struggling with 'flu

German team Gerolsteiner has been juggling the team line-ups for the Swiss races of Chiasso and Lugano this week-end. Fabian Wegmann, who placed fourth in Chiasso last year, cannot participate due to the 'flu, as well as Georg Totschnig and Thomas Ziegler.

Fortunately, team leader Davide Rebellin is in good health and may be up to a first victory this season at the GP Chiasso. "The race will be very hard," said Directeur sportif Christian Henn. "Good climbing is what you need here, so it could be a course for Davide." Rebellin has won the race once already, in 2001, and will have the aid of Markus Zberg, who finished eighth last year. "One week before the first ProTour race, Paris-Nice, it's important to strain the body once more," Henn added.

Gerolsteiner for GP Chiasso (Saturday, February 26): Markus Fothen, Andrea Moletta, Volker Ordowski, Davide Rebellin, Ronny Scholz, Marco Serpellini, Marcel Strauss, Markus Zberg.

On the next day, the following riders will start at GP Lugano: Markus Fothen, Andrea Moletta, Volker Ordowski, Michael Rich, Ronny Scholz, Marco Serpellini, Marcel Strauss.

LPR for GP Chiasso and GP Lugano: Alberto Tiberio, Andrea Del Biaggio, Luca Nardello, Mauro Santambrogio, Aitor Hernandez, Elio Aggiano, Ivan Fanelli, Giuseppe Muraglia, Ivan De Gasperi.