The owners of Acqua & Sapone are furious to have been excluded from the 2012 Giro d'Italia. The news of the exclusion came as a surprise to Enio and Nando Barbarossa, the owners. "If this is the case, after twelve years, perhaps the time has arrived to leave cycling," said Enio Barbarossa. "It's a decision that forces us to seriously think about saying farewell."
The 2012 team had added Danilo DiLuca, who was to be the captain; DiLuca won the Giro in 2005 and was suspended following a positive doping test during the 2009 Giro d'Italia. The team also includes the popular Stefano Garzelli, winner of the 2000 Giro and green jersey (Mountains classification) in 2009 and 2011; Garzelli was also involved in a Giro doping scandal, in 2002.
The team is currently in Francavilla a Mare for its start of season preparations.
Michele Acquarone, Managing Director at RCS Sports, tweeted, "As I already said it's a hard choice: 12 requests for 4 wildcards: 4 teams happy and 8 unhappy, 1/3 fans happy and 2/3 unhappy."
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Larry would blame their non-selection on whoever decided to add "The Killer" to the team for 2012. This brainless decision certainly looks like it has killed the team! Interesting conflict in their statements about sporting merit vs money, when they go on to say how many people will be out of jobs if/when the team folds up its tent.
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