Surprise inclusion of Basso in Insubria G.P.

With a surprise note published today by the cycling team Liquigas-Doimo, Ivan Basso has announced he is going to take part in the next Insubria Grand Prix, organised by the Binda Cycling Association in Varese, included in the international calendar, on Saturday 27 February. This was unexpected, as Basso’s plans had previously mentioned his starting well into March, probably in the Tour of Catalonia.

However, the date of his entry into the 2010 circuit has been brought forward by almost one month, with the Insubria and with the Lugano GP, scheduled to take place on the following day, Sunday 28, as the champion himself explains from Cassano Magnago. “The results of my preparation so far are very satisfying, and, after talking with the sporting directors and my trainer Aldo Sassi, I thought it would be useful to start sooner. The work program has been prepared on the basis of the important races, and, as I’m going to take part in these two races, after the retreat to Teide (the Spanish volcano, already the venue of other pre-season retreats, ed.), I can already get the first result. It’s not going to be a test of my condition; the sensations will be more important to improve the work program for the next few months.”
In addition to the aspects of preparation, Basso has decided to return sooner also to please his fans, as the Insubria takes place between Campione d’Italia and Pieve Vergonte, and covers several kilometres in Varese Province.
“Last season, the public always gave me a warm welcome. Now that a few months have passed since the last race, I feel almost nostalgic. I want to embrace the fans again, they are something I can’t do without when I race, and also, I’ll be racing near home, which is another reason for taking part in these two races.”

And there is an air of satisfaction also in the “Binda” camp, who had already obtained the participation of the World Champion Cadel Evans and other top cyclists, in the Insubria. “We are very happy,” the organiser, Renzo Oldani, commented, “because we thought it was impossible to have Ivan at the start, and yet, with him and Cadel, we’ve got the best result. Incidentally, this race began in order to promote this region; Basso and Evans are two champions whose roots are here, and this is important for us. And so is coverage by RAI Television, which is very likely.” And this is the second piece of good news of the cycling day.