MCipollini - Giordana Women Ready for Tour of Qatar

The MCipollini - Giordana women's team will be making its debut tomorrow at the first big race of the season, the third annual Ladies Tour of Qatar. It is a 3 day stage race as follows;
Stage 1 Wednesday, February 2 2011: Camel Race Track - Dukhan, 104.5 km
Stage 2 Thursday, February 3 2011: Museum of Islamic Art - Lusail, 94.5 km
Stage 3 Friday, February 4 2011: Al Dayeen - Doha Corniche, 92 km

The women on the team participating in the race are (left to right):
Nichole Cooke (2008 Gold Medalist Beijing Olympics and 2008 World Champion), Marta Tagliaferro, Monia Baccaille (2009 and 2010 Italian National Champion), Rossella Callovi (Junior World Champion 2009), Marta Bastianelli (2007 World Champion), Tatiana Guderzo (2008 World Champion)

The current women's World Champion, Italian Giorgia Bronzini, will be racing with Team Italy.

The full list of teams and particpants:

ITALY (ITA) ITA - Sporting Manager : SALVOLDI Edoardo
PRESTI Gloria ITA
PATUZZO Eleonora ITA
GUARISCHI Barbara ITA
CUCINOTTA Annalisa ITA
CECCHINI Elena ITA
BRONZINI Giorgia ITA


SC MCIPOLLINI GIORDANA (MCG) ITA - Sporting Manager : RICCI PETITONI Walter
TAGLIAFERRO Marta ITA
GUDERZO Tatiana ITA
CALLOVI Rossella ITA
BASTIANELLI Marta ITA
BACCAILLE Monia ITA
COOKE Nicole GBR


HTC HIGHROAD WOMEN (TCW) USA - Sporting Manager : ZEMKE Jens
VISSER Adriana NED
STEVENS Evelyn USA
HOSKING Chloe AUS
FAHLIN Emilia SWE
BECKER Charlotte GER
VAN DIJK Ellen NED


AUSTRALIA (AUS) AUS - Sporting Manager : MCPORTLAND David
TAYLOR Carlee AUS
SPRATT Amanda AUS
MACKIE Emma AUS
KITCHEN Lauren AUS
CORSET Ruth AUS
BROUN Kirsty AUS


NEDERLAND BLOEIT (NLB) NED - Sporting Manager : BLIJLEVENS Jeroen
VAN WANROY Marieke NED
TROTT Emma GBR
SCHWAGER Patricia SUI
KANIS Janneke NED
DÜSTER Sarah GER
GUNNEWIJK Loes NED


GARMIN-CERVELO (CWT) GBR - Sporting Manager : MAUCHER Théo
SLAPPENDEL Iris NED
SCHMIDT Trine DEN
RHODES Alexis AUS
MARTIN Lucy GBR
ARMITSTEAD Elizabeth GBR
CANTELE Noemi ITA


GERMANY (GER) GER - Sporting Manager : LIESE Thomas
SANDIG Madeleine GER
POHL Stephanie GER
JOOSS Verena GER
GEBHARDT Elke GER
FOUQUET Laura GER
BRENNAUER Lisa GER


LOTTO HONDA TEAM (LHT) BEL - Sporting Manager : SCHOONBAERT Dany
WERNER Laure BEL
SCHOONBAERT Kim BEL
HACTH Elizabeth USA
CROMWELL Tiffany AUS
ANDREASSON Veronica SWE
GILMORE Rochelle AUS


USA (USA) USA - Sporting Manager : STEWART Jackson
STARNES Alison USA
SMALL Carmen USA
RYAN Kendall USA
RIVERA Coryn USA
GUARNIER Megan USA
CROWELL Jackie USA


NETHERLANDS (NED) NED - Sporting Manager : LAMMERTS Johan
WOERING Melanie NED
WOERING Melanie NED
VISSER Annelies NED
VAN DER BREGGEN Anna NED
BRASPENNINCX Shanne NED
BRAS Martine NED


FRANCE (FRA) FRA - Sporting Manager : BONNORONT Dany
RIBEROT Fanny FRA
DUTRIAUX Fiona FRA
CREUX Sophie FRA
BLANQUEFORT Emilie FRA
BIANNIC Aude FRA
JEULAND Pascale FRA


CHINA CHONGMING-GIANT (GPC) HKG - Sporting Manager : WU Wei Pei
ZHAO Na CHN
SHI Li Na CHN
MENG Lang CHN
LUO Xiaoling CHN
HUANG Li CHN
GU Huili CHN


GAUSS (GAU) ITA - Sporting Manager : PEGORARO Luisiana
ZORZI Susanna ITA
VERHOEVEN Aurore FRA
TAMANINI Luisa ITA
SCANDOLARA Valentina ITA
FORESI Lorena ITA
BORCHI Alessandra ITA


SKIL-KOGA CYCLING TEAM (XXX) NED - Sporting Manager : VAN ESSEN Sharon
TESTROETE Alison CAN
PIETERS Amy NED
KNETEMANN Roxanne NED
BRUINS Regina NED
BECKER Christina GER
DE GOEDE Suzanne NED


VAIANO SOLARITECH (VAI) ITA - Sporting Manager : MAGGINI Elisa
SPALIVIERO Eleonora ITA
SOSNA Katazina LTU
MARTINI Simona ITA
LELIVYTE Rasa LTU
FALORNI Irene ITA
BASTIANELLI Valentina ITA

The men will be racing in the 10th edition of the Tour of Qatar, 16 teams of 8 riders will hit the road from 6 to 11 February 2011.

For the first time the race will start with a prologue, 2.5 km in the Cultural Village. They will then move onto 5 flat stages, a sprint fest. The teams:

An Post – Sean Kelly (IRL)
Astana (KAZ)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli (GBR)
FDJ (FRA)
Geox-TMC (SP)
Garmin-Cervelo (USA)
Katusha Team (RUS)
Lampre-ISD (ITA)
Luxembourg Pro Cycling Team (LUX)
Quickstep Cycling Team (BEL)
Rabobank (NED)
Skil - Shimano (NED)
Sky Pro Cycling (GBR)
Team HTC – Highroad (GBR)
Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator (BEL)

Share your story. Write a story about your cycling trip, or an aspect of your trip, in Italy. Or, it can be about a granfondo experience, a special encounter, your favorite ride, etc. The period for story submissions for prizes will be January 1-February 15, 2011. Prizes will be awarded on a random basis, stories will not be judged on which is the "best" one. Nevertheless, it should be a good story for the enjoyment of all readers. Photos accompanying the story are most welcome. If you have any questions email me at veronaman@gmail.com. See photos of prizes here. Prize donated by:
CycleItalia, specializing in cycling tours in Italy
BicycleGifts.com, the premiere site for gifts and merchandise for cyclists
Enzo’s ButtonHole Chamois Cream,chamois cream for the ultimate protection
FreeBirdVelo, Italian themed T-shirts
Strada Hand Built Wheels, custom wheel building
Velo-Retro, all things retro for cycling
La Gazzetta della Bici, massage oils for cyclists
Albabici, high-end Italian cycling products distributor