Team Katusha have announced that their bid at the Santos Tour Down Under, the South Australian event which really kick-starts the pro-cycling season (January 15-22) will be lead by three-times World Champion Oscar Freire. Commenting on the news Race Director Mike Turtur said: “Spaniard Oscar Freire has accomplished what only legends like Alfredo Binda, Eddy Merckx and Rik Van Steenbergen have been able to do: win three World Road Race Championships (1999, 2001, 2004). His other impressive results include winning the Milan to San Remo three times (2004, 2007 and 2010) as well as several Grand Tour stages.”
In addition the Spaniard is also a four time TdF stage winner, a winner of the TdF Green Jersey (2008) and winner of seven stages of the Vuelta a Espana. The Russian team’s line-up will also include Xavier Florencio, Giampaolo Caruso, Eduard Vorganov, Maxim Belkov and Luca Paolini.
BMC Racing have also confirmed their Tour Down Under squad: Team Manager, Rik Verbrugghe (BEL) and include riders: Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Adam Blythe (GBR), Marcus Burghardt (GER), Martin Kohler (SUI), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Tim Roe (AUS) and Greg Van Avermaet (BEL).