World champion Paolo Bettini also in California bike race
Italian cyclist Ivan Basso's first race appearance in a Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team jersey will be at the Amgen Tour of California, where he'll be bicycling against former teammates on Team CSC.
Basso, who once again is aiming to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year, hinted that he'll ride the Tour of California (February 18-25) in support of another Discovery team newcomer, American Levi Leipheimer.
You can be sure that all eyes will be on the 29-year-old from the opening prologue in San Francisco to the finish line in Long Beach to determine his level of fitness and how well he gets along with his new team.
Other world-class cyclists committed to Tour of California include sprinter World Champion Paolo Bettini of Quick-Step, and Christian Vande Velde and Juan José Haedo, both of CSC.
Interviewed in VeloNews recently, Chicago native Vande Velde said about facing former teammate Basso:
“That is going to be hard. At the same time, I have nothing against Ivan. I know how much of a hard worker he is, I know his entire life is cycling.”
In a long interview in CyclingNews, Basso says he's not quite up to a podium finish at the upcoming Tour of California.
“I'll be there in good condition to ride a good race, but not a competitive level with the best. California is just the beginning of my season. I can't expect a real result in the time trial to be competitive there.”
CyclingNews says that Leipheimer will probably be team leader for the California race. Basso:
“And I think there's room for me, for him, for all on the team. I don't see any hassles because I'm also able to do my job as a professional rider, to stay in my place, to understand if in a certain moment when another rider is stronger, there's no problem to work for them.”
The CyclingNews interview also reports on Basso's troubles that led to leaving CSC and what his other plans are for the coming year.
Basso won the 2006 Giro d'Italia and was a favorite to win the Tour de France until his name was among those associated with doping in the Spanish Operacion Puerto investigation. He was forced out of the Tour, but has been cleared to race again after no evidence against him was forthcoming.
See also “Leipheimer leads Discovery at 2007 Tour of California”; and all Tour of California race news
The teams listed for the 2007 Tour of California, and links to websites where rosters can be found:
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light Team (USA)
Crédit Agricole (FRA)
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Gerolsteiner (GER)
Health Net Presented by Maxxis (USA)
Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)
Liquigas Pro Cycling Team (ITL)
Navigators Insurance Cycling Team (USA)
Predictor-Lotto (BEL)
Priority Health Cycling Team Presented by Bissell (USA)
Quick Step-Innergetic (BEL)
Rabobank Cycling Team (Netherlands)
T-Mobile Team (GER)
Team CSC (DEN)
Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle (USA)
Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA)
USA Cycling National Development Team (USA)
More Tour of California stories
Basso picture by Cathy Mehl at Paceline (free membership)
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