Barloworld invited to centenary Giro d’Italia

The British-registered Team Barloworld has been given the final place in this year?s Giro d?Italia, boosting the number of British riders in the centenary edition of the Italian stage race.

Race organisers RCS Sport announced the final line-up of the 21 teams on Wednesday, a month before the start of the race in Venice on May 9.

20 were announced earlier in the year, with Team Barloworld taking the final slot ahead of Ceramica Flaminia of current Italian national champion Filippo Simeoni.

Chris Froome and Steve Cummings are certain to ride for Team Barloworld, with Geraint Thomas also likely to be in the team if he makes a rapid recovery from his crash in the Tirreno-Adriatico time trial.

Lance Armstrong is also set to ride despite recently breaking his collarbone during the Castilla y Leon race in Spain.

The centenary edition of the Giro d?Italia starts with a team time trial in Venice on May 9 and ends on May 31 with an individual time trial around the centre of Rome.

ALPINE STAGE CHANGED

Organisers have also announced major changes to stage ten from Cuneo to Pinerolo.

Technical problems have forced the organisers to eliminate the climbs of the Colle della Maddalena, Col de Vars and Col d?Izoard and the stage will no longer go through France. Instead the 260km stage will go over the steep Moncenisio climb and up to Sestriere before the finish in Pinerolo. The sportive ride which was planned for a similar route has also been cancelled.

GIRO D?ITALIA TEAMS

1) ACQUA&SAPONE - CAFFE? MOKAMBO (Ita)

2) AG2R LA MONDIALE (Fra)

3) ASTANA (Kaz)

4) BARLOWORLD (Saf)

5) BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM (Fra)

6) CAISSE D?EPARGNE (Spa)

7) CERVELO TEST TEAM (Svi)

8 GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM (Usa)

9) ISD (Ita)

10) LAMPRE-NGC (Ita)

11) LIQUIGAS (Ita)

12) LPR BRAKES - FARNESE VINI (Irl)

13) QUICK STEP (Bel)

14) RABOBANK (Ola)

15) SILENCE ? LOTTO (Bel)

16) SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI ? ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI (Ven)

17) TEAM COLUMBIA ? HIGH ROAD (Usa)

18) TEAM KATUSHA (Rus)

19) TEAM MILRAM (Ger)

20) TEAM SAXO BANK (Dan)

21) XACOBEO GALICIA (Spa)