THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canadian cyclists Christian Meier and Svein Tuft have been named to GreenEDGE’s nine-man Giro d’Italia team.
The 95th Giro D’Italia takes place May 5-27. It runs 3,504 kilometres through 21 stages.
Garmin-Baracuda has yet to name its Giro roster but a team spokesman said Tuesday that it will include Canadian Ryder Hesjedal.
The Victoria cyclist was 18th overall at last year’s Tour de France and seventh in 2010.
GreenEDGE, a new Australian team, acknowledges it lacks a general classification rider at the Giro, but looks to highlight Australian sprinter Matt Goss.
"We’re solely focused on stage wins," team sports director Matt White said in a statement. "We’ve said that from the beginning. We definitely don’t have anyone for the general classification. Most of our riders will have a chance for individual stage wins, and Matt Goss is our leader for the sprints."
White said Tuft, from Langley, B.C., and Australian Jack Bobridge will look after Goss and set the pace in the team time trial.
"Svein has had solid form since February," White said. "He’s a rider I can count on to line up and get the work done. The team time trial is a huge goal, and Svein is critical in our success in this discipline."
White called Meier, a native of Sussex, N.B., "a solid teammate that completely dedicates himself to the team goals.
"He’s done the Vuelta a Espana in the past, but this is his first Giro. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of chances to show us his strengths."
The historic Giro is one of cycling’s three Grand Tours, along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.
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GreenEDGE Giro d’Italia team
Brett Lancaster, Australia
Christian Meier, Langley, B.C.
Daryl Impey, South Africa
Fumiyuki Beppu, Japan
Jack Bobridge, Australia
Jens Keukeleire, Belgium
Matt Goss, Australia
Svein Tuft, Sussex, N.B.
Tomas Vaitkus, Lithuania
