Competitions

HTC-Highroad focuses on a strong start to Tirreno-Adriatico

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Parent Category: Competitions

Category: Race 2011

Published on Monday, 07 March 2011 21:42

Written by Luca Salvatelli

HTC-Highroad aims to hit the ground running in Tirreno-Adriatico, with the team's first big focus on a strong performance in the Italian race's opening team time trial on Wednesday.

"We've got a great line-up here for a team time trial with some of the squad's top TT specialists," comments sports director Valerio Piva.

"HTC-Highroad has always done well in time trials in Italy, too. We won the opening team time trial of the Giro in 2009, so that first stage is a real target."

"Then we'll see what we can do in the first two flat stages with Mark [Cavendish], he was going very well in the Eroica [Strade Bianche one-day race], only losing contact with the front group right at the end, and his morale is good."

"Marco Pinotti, Michael Albasini and Peter Velits will be our GC riders here. The final individual time trial this year is a factor in their favor."

HTC-Highroad has used the three days before Tirreno-Adriatico to check out the finale of the upcoming Milan-San Remo Classic, riding the last 60 kilometers on Sunday then the last 100 kilometers on Monday.

"There have been no changes at all to the route, but it's good just to remember what it's like," Piva commented, "seeing it again was definitely worth while."

HTC-Highroad for Tirreno-Adriatico: Michael Albasini (Swi); Mark Cavendish (GB); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); Bert Grabsch (Ger); Marco Pinotti (Ita); Mark Renshaw (Aus); Hayden Roulston (NZ); Peter Velits (Svk).