Ivan Basso to prioritize Tour de France over Giro d'Italia in 2011
Italian rider Ivan Basso has said he will skip the 2011 Giro d'Italia in order to focus fully on his general classification bid in the Tour de France.
Basso, who won the Giro in 2006 and added a second title to his name this year, will not defend his victory for Liquigas-Doimo in 2011.
Instead, his Italian compatriot Vincenzo Nibali will lead the team in the first Grand Tour race of the season.
"If I won the Giro d'Italia I would be on a special list of three-time winners, but the yellow jersey would give a special light to the two pink jerseys I already have at home," Basso told Italian daily
La Gazzetta dello Sport about his plans for next season, adding that he wouldn't want to disappoint his home fans with a subdued Giro bid in preparation for the Tour. "To go slowly through the Dolomites would be offending the fans."
The 33-year-old has eight Giro stage wins to his name, but has only claimed one stage in the Tour, at the 2004 edition of the race. In 2005, the Italian finished second in the Tour's general classification before serving a two-year suspension
and returning to cycling in October 2008.
Nibali impressed at 2010 Vuelta
Nibali, who has raced for Liquigas since 2006, won this year's Vuelta a Espana after finishing third and winning two stages at the Giro four months prior.
The 26-year-old's strong form in 2010 has led the team to award him the leadership at next year's Giro, where he will be one of the overall favourites.
"Vincenzo is maturing and is no longer a little kid. As he showed at the Vuelta, he can win the Giro," Basso said of his teammate, who finished seventh at the 2009 edition of the Tour.
Liquigas' official team presentation will take place on 10 January in Milan.
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