Team Liquigas-Cannondale preparing for the 2012 grand tours,
Vincenzo Nibali and Ivan Basso as leads
Team Liquigas-Cannondale is making full preparations to strategically divide the various tours marked for 2012 among its runners. Vincenzo Nibali will lead Liquigas-Cannondale at the Giro d’ Italia 2012 as the team decided to go on the tour with one leader.
Ivan Basso mentioned that he discussed the Giro route for the coming season with Nibali. The team thence reached the conclusion that Basso will be given the leadership role at the Tour de France 2012 whereas Nibali will lead the Giro next year.
Basso mentioned that the decision was made so that both the grand tours can be targeted. He mentioned that it will not be a good idea to ride the Giro just as a preparation for Tour de France.
The 33-year-old was quoted as saying, "The programme hasn't been made out yet, but anyone who does the Giro at a high level uses up energy that will be missing later on." He further added that, "If someone like Nibali, who is a winning athlete, does the
Giro, then he must do it to win".
Ivan finished the Tour de France 2011 at 8th position overall and is looking forward to winning the event in the coming season.
He managed to win the Giro d’ Italia in 2010 and will be a great help to Nibali during the Italian grand tour.
Basso stated that anyone who will lead the team in Giro will be seen in supporting role in the next race.
It is impossible for the one player to ride both the Giro and the Tour and end up as a general classifications contender.
Nibali also had a terrific season as he finished the Giro d’ Italia 2011 at 3rd position overall along with the Vuelta a Espana 2010 win.
Basso, senior of the two riders mentioned that it is not easy for him and for Nibali to ride the small races. He stated that, “The public leave their homes, take their cars and go to the roadside to see Basso and Nibali, and they wouldn't have wanted to
see Basso coming over the Ghisallo 30 minutes down yesterday”.
Team Liquigas has come up with an interesting strategy for the coming season and their preparations are a clear warning for other teams. It will be interesting to see if the Italian based team can secure some impressive wins in the coming seasons.
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