28-08-2009 22:26:22

After a good seventh place by Martine Bras in the GP de Ploauy the Selle Italia-Ghezzi finally returns racing in Italy: in fact, on saturday the girls will be engaged in the Classica Città di Padova and on sunday in Aiello del Friuli, near Udine, will take place the Giro del Friuli. The first race will be disputed on a flat circuit to be repeated 12 times for a total of 113 km: since it is ranked as a national race at the start there will be all the cyclists of the team except Fabiana Luperini and Martine Bras.
Luperini who however will start the following day at the Giro del Friuli, a race that she has already won in 2006: compared to that edition, the route is a bit faster, but the ascent of Monte San Michele will be selective. These two races will be very important because they give accurate information to the national team manager about the candidate for a jersey in the World Championship of Mendrisio: just why all the girls are very motivated and eager to do well. These weekend will be an important test also for Oxana Kozonchuk who come back after the bad fall she suffered at the Route de France where she had reported numerous injuries and abrasions.
Monday instead of five girls of the team will reach Martine Bras in Holland to race in the Holland Ladies Tour, a race 2.2-ranked which will take place from tuesday, September 1st until sunday 6th. Besides Martine Bras there will be Bagdonaviciute, Borgato, Bozzolo, Foresi, and Presti: a challenging and high-levelled race that will live its final epilogue on the famous climb of the Cauberg.

Classica Città di Padova (29 august, 1.15):
Bagdonaviciute, Borgato, Boyd, Bozzolo, Corneo, Foresi, Grassi, Kozonchuk, Presti, Tamanini, Valsecchi, Zogli.

Giro del Friuli (30 august, 1.15):
Bagdonaviciute, Borgato, Boyd, Bozzolo, Corneo, Foresi, Grassi, Kozonchuk, Luperini, Presti, Tamanini, Valsecchi, Zogli.

Holland Ladies Tour (1-6 september, 2.2):
Bagdonaviciute, Borgato, Bozzolo, Bras, Foresi, Presti.