Organizers hopeful for Giro free of scandals

Angelo Zomegnan, the director of the Giro d'Italia, is hoping for a drug-free edition of this year's race.

"Nobody knows if there will be any doping scandals at this year's Giro d'Italia but I'm hopeful and I think it'll be a great race," he said to Eurosport. "There will always be someone who tries to cheat in sport, just like in life but all the riders have accepted the biological passport system and have been tested several times."

With the last minute addition of Astana, the Giro will feature riders like last year's Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer. Last year's Giro d'Italia winner Danilo Di Luca will also be on hand to defend his title. "We've worked hard to get the highest quality field in this year's Giro. There is also the current world and Olympic champion Paolo Bettini, 10 different national champions and a host of young riders who are determined to make a name," said Zomegnan, who is hoping for an exciting race "decided in the final kilometre of the final stage".

The Giro d'Italia starts Saturday, May 10 in Palermo, Italy, and it runs until the finish in Milano on June 1.