Ivan Basso to alter his preparations for 2011
Liquigas-Doimo rider Ivan Basso has said that he will alter his build-up to the Grand Tours during next season after suffering from fatigue at this year's Tour de France.
Basso began the 2010 season at the GP Dell'Insubria-Lugano in the last week of February, just over two months before starting the Giro d'Italia, which he went on to win for the second time.
At the Tour, the Giro winner finished 32nd overall, like many of the riders who failed to replicate their strong form from the Italian race two months prior.
Speaking to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Basso his crammed schedule in the early stages of the 2010 season prevented him from preparing properly for the Grand Tours, adding that he will start his 2011 season earlier.
"I’m going to start the 2011 early. I took a big risk this year," the 32-year-old said. "I was not in shape, so I had to add [the Tour de Romandie] to speed up. I will start next season in the Tour de San Luis in Argentina [in January] and my first race
in Italy will probably be the Giro di Sardegna [in February]."
Basso has also said that the Tour will form his main priority in 2011, a title the Italian came closest to winning in 2005, when he finished second in the overall standings.
It remains to be seen whether Basso will even start the 2011 Giro, with some tipping his teammate Vincenzo Nibali, winner of this year's Vuelta a Espana, to lead Liquigas in the race.
"This is the start of a fundamental eight-week block of training," said Basso, who said his age requires him to be more diligent during the off-season. "It is important to build a solid foundation to cope with the intensive work that awaits later. At my
age I need some time to get in shape, so I have started a little earlier than before."
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