Stagiaire time again

Several teams have announced the signing of stagiaire riders until the end of the season. Italian Liquigas, for example, has taken on two youngsters from the Marchiol Ima Famila Liquigas, the satellite team of the pro team: Stefano Basso and Emanuele Fornasier. Basso, sixth at the Italian Championship, is part of the Under 23 Italian team. Fornasier, a good long-distance rider, has taken eleventh at the Baby Giro and second in the Giro del Veneto.

German squad Gerolsteiner recruited 19 year-old Nico Keinath, who is being trained by the same coach as Stefan Schumacher, Hartmut Täumler. "We want to test him in some races without pressure," said team manager Hans-Michael Holczer. "I can't wait to see how he'll come along, but until now, all of our stagiaires have always done just fine!"

Another Italian team, Miche Cinerama Tinkoff, has agreed to welcome three apprentices: Davide Beccaro, Alessandro Bianchin and Marco Da Lozzo, who will be racing with the pros at least until the end of the season.