Harelbeke

28-03-2009 00:13:35

Who lives breathing cycling air, as in Liquigas home, spring is not announced by blossom trees. Even by the mild climate. Bad weather, mud, cobbled streets and Flamish language decree the beginning. So, at the end of March, the green and blue riders well known what is awaiting them.

Harelbeke, Brabante, De Panne, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. Here are the engagements that Liquigas will face in its Flamish and French tour de force. «We want have our say – affirms directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta – with an experienced and tough line-up. The streets of the classics strain the riders to the limit but, at the same time, give many motivations». The Flamish baptism will have place tomorrow in Harelbeke, while on Sunday is planned the Brabant Arrow. «These are two juicy opportunities to draw attention on us – continues Zanatta -. Riders as Quinziato, Fischer, Kuchynski and Willems have everything it takes to try the exploit. Bodnar and Franzoi must take confidence with the ground waiting Ronde van Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem and Roubaix, while the debutants Guarnieri and Oss will taste the way to run on these routes».

From Tuesday 31st March to Thursday 2nd April the attention will move on Three Days of De Panne. «Fischer and Kuchynski will take a break – explains Zanatta – substituted with Bennati and Chicchi. Daniele will exploit this race to refine his condition in view of Ronde van Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem: in Gent, I’m sure he can aspire to something more than the podium». Besides Bennati, Liquigas will propose three specialists as Quinziato, Franzoi and Willems to increase team’s chance in Ronde van Vlaanderen (Sunday 5th April) and in Gent-Wevelgem (Wednesday 8th April). At the end the Paris-Roubaix, planned on Sunday 12nd April. «Quinziato and Franzoi showed to feel at one’s ease in the hell of the North: we await a high level performance from them» concludes Zanatta.

Here are the line-up for the six engagements:

E3 Prijs Vlaanderen (Harelbeke): Maciej Bodnar, Murilo Fischer, Enrico Franzoi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Oss e Manuel Quinziato

De Brabantse Pijl: Maciej Bodnar, Murilo Fischer, Enrico Franzoi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato e Frederik Willems

KBC Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde: Daniele Bennati, Maciej Bodnar, Francesco Chicchi, Enrico Franzoi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato e Frederik Willems.

Ronde van Vlaanderen: Daniele Bennati, Maciej Bodnar, Murilo Fischer, Enrico Franzoi, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato e Frederik Willems

Gent-Wevelgem: Daniele Bennati, Murilo Fischer, Enrico Franzoi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato e Frederik Willems

Paris-Roubaix: Maciej Bodnar, Francesco Chicchi, Murilo Fischer, Enrico Franzoi, Jacopo Guarnieri, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Oss e Manuel Quinziato