Liquigas sets Vuelta line-up

Liquigas-Doimo will bring many of its star riders to the start of the 64th Vuelta a España, in Assen, the Netherlands. The squad wants to field its best for the Spanish Grand Tour including Ivan Basso, Daniele Bennati, Roman Kreuziger and Manuele Quinziato.

"We like to face the most important events of the season with our best," said team manager Roberto Amadio. "In the Giro and the Tour, we fought at the front for stage wins and solid GC places. We want to face the Vuelta with the same conviction."

Maciej Bodnar, Kjell Carlström, Fabio Sabatini, Sylwester Szmyd and Oliver Zaugg will join the others to make a full nine-rider team. All will race under the guidance of directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta and Mario Scirea.

"The line-up is assorted and well balanced," said Zanatta, "and allows us to think of the general ranking and single stage victories. The first week is good for sprinters and therefore for Bennati. He will have the support of Quinziato, Sabatini and Bodnar, for precious help in the last kilometres of the flat stages. From the second week onward, the route will begin to go up and the battle for the general classification will start."

Basso has just finished off a training period that will help him go for his goal of winning," said Zanatta. "The Giro was the first important engagement after his return. The help of Szmyd, Carlström and Zaugg will be important, as well as the support of Kreuziger."

Zanatta also though Krueziger would have a chance to continue to improve his already good form, with a view toward the World Championship in Mendrisio.

The Vuelta a España will start August 29 and run through September 20.

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