Soler studies the Pampeago climb in Giro d'Italia

Team Barloworld's Mauricio Soler and his team-mates John-Lee Augustyn and Daryl Impey checked out the finish of 14th stage of this year's Giro d'Italia on Alpe di Pampeago Wednesday.

Soler, who won the mountains classification at the 2007 Tour de France, and his team-mates rode for 90km, including the final 25km of the stage and the last eight kilometers of the climb to the finish. "It's a really tough climb. It's hard but the long straight sections of road also mean the riders will be in sight of each and that always makes a difference. I've memorized the climb and I'll talk with the directeur sportifs about what gears to use," Soler said.

"It was a great day, it was 14 degrees and so it was a perfect training ride. It was important to see the final climb because it will be a key moment of the Giro d'Italia," said Barloworld's directeur sportif Valerio Tebaldi.

"We only saw a part of the 14th stage, but it was a worthwhile trip. In the Giro the riders will also climb the Passo del Manghen and then faced the descent that isn't easy," said Tebaldi. "It'll be a crucial stage and it's important that the riders who want to perhaps win the stage, study it in detail before the race."

Soler, who has completely recovered from his knee problem caused by a crash in February, is focused on major stage race for the season. As part of his training, he's been spending some time on his time trial bike. He will ride for four hours Thursday on his last training ride before Saturday's Milan-Sanremo.