A line up with a strong team spirit: here is the soul of Liquigas-Doimo to run the 97th Tour de France, from July 3rd to 25th, as protagonist.

Ivan Basso and Roman Kreuziger are the hopes for a good placement in final classification: the Italian returns in France with high moral after the victory in Giro d’Italia while the Czech wants to search a new quality leap after the great performances of 2008 and 2009. Together with them Liquigas-Doimo will be present with two climbers, Sylwester Szmyd and Francesco Bellotti, and five long distance riders: Kristjan Koren, Aliaksandr Kuchynski, Daniel Oss, Manuel Quinziato and Brian Bach Vandborg. Stefano Zanatta, Mario Scirea and after Alberto Volpi will be the directeur sportif in charge to lead the team.

«We can play our chances for a good results in this Tour de France – affirms DS Zanatta -. Basso and Kreuziger allow us to aim high in general classification, thanks also to the reliability showed by their team-mates. Koren and Oss, two young riders at their first experience in a long stages race, will have the opportunity to confirm the potential showed during the first part of the season».

For Ivan Basso the return in France will be first of all «a great emotion. I’ll be at the departure with a very good condition, knowing the difficulties of the Tour but sure to be competitive. During these weeks I worked to maintain the resistance and to refine the legs. I face this new challenge with a strong wish to fight till Paris: I don’t preclude any results, the road will return the verdict».

«I’m ready in phisyque and quiet in mind – adds Kreuziger – because I prepared this event without problems. This Tour is hardest than 2008 and 2009: Alps will be the first step to understand the chances of pretenders, while on Pyrenees the classification will be decided. I’ll exploit this last week to refine the legs to be at the top for Rotterdam prologue: I feel myself stronger in respect of other years and together with Ivan can give hard time to everyone».