Rebellin heads Gerolsteiner in Lombardia

German ProTeam Gerolsteiner has released its roster for the last ProTour race this season, the Giro di Lombardia on Saturday, October 15: Classics rider Davide Rebellin will lead the line-up further including Fabian Wegmann, Andrea Moletta and Heinrich Haussler. The 99th edition of the 246 km-long race will be "very difficult" according to Christian Henn, Gerolsteiner DS in Italy.

"It's a race for good climbers, for riders like Davide," Henn said. "And he's shown that he has the form to be in front." Rebellin, who placed fourth in the Giro dell'Emilia won by Gilberto Simoni last Saturday got second in the Giro di Lombardia three years ago. In 2004, the 33 year-old battled it out against fellow Italian Paolo Bettini in his bid to top the World Cup ranking finally won by "Il Grillo". This year, Rebellin wants to retain his top ten placing in the ProTour overall ranking.

But Gerolsteiner does not focus on the Italian alone. "Fabian Wegmann, Andrea Moletta and Heinrich Haussler are in good shape, too," Henn continued. "They can also play a part in the race." Wegmann achieved fourth place at the G.P. Beghelli recently, while Haussler and Moletta finished seventh and 13th respectively at the Züri Metzgete.

The final Gerolsteiner line-up for the last ProTour race from Mendrisio to Como reads as follows: Fabian Wegmann, Heinrich Haussler, Andrea Moletta, Davide Rebellin, Matthias Russ, Marco Serpellini, Beat Zberg and Marcus Zberg.