CSC's Ivan Basso will skip the Giro next year and concentrate on winning the Tour de France, according to the Danish newspaper Politiken. Team boss Bjarne Riis had hoped to sign Gilberto Simoni to ride the Giro for the team, but as the deal didn't work out, Team CSC has changed its strategy for the Italian Grand Tour.
"We don't necessarily have to show up with a rider that is aiming to win the GC," Riis said. "A lot of other teams show up with other targets and it's also likely we will do that. The American Vande Velde has said he would to go for the GC. But in this case it won't be the podium we are talking about, but maybe top 10."
