Liquigas-Cannondale also confident in the condition of Kristjan Koren in the Basque Clásica
Ivan Basso will lead the Liquigas-Cannondale team in tomorrow’s Clásica San Sebastian hoping to build on the form he has built up in finishing eighth in the Tour de France. The 33-year-old finished second in the Basque classic in 2003, then sixth in 2004, but has not ridden since, even though the hilly course would appear to suit his characteristics.
While Basso will be leading the team, he will be joined by fellow Tour riders Sylwester Szmyd, Paolo Longo Borghini and Kristijan Koren. Szmyd could often be seen on the front of the peloton in the mountain stages, pacing the peloton on Basso’s behalf, while Koren featured in a number of breakaway groups in the race.
As well as supporting Basso, the team expects the promising 24-year-old Slovenian Koren to perform well over a parcours that suits him.
Of the four riders that were not at the Tour, Simone Ponzi is also carrying seom good form this month, having won the GP Kranj and the GP Nobili Rubinetterie – both 1.1-ranked races – in recent weeks. Damiano Caruso, Mauro Da Dalto and Mauro Finetto complete the team, which will be guided by sports director Alberto Volpi.
Liquigas-Cannondale team for the Clásica San Sebastian:
Ivan Basso, Damiano Caruso, Mauro Da Dalto, Mauro Finetto, Kristijan Koren, Paolo Longo Borghini, Simone Ponzi and Sylwester Szmyd