38th Tirreno - Adriatico - 2.HC

Italy, March 13-19, 2003

2002 Results Preview Stages and results Start list Past winners

Top teams line up for Tirreno-Adriatico

Two of Italy's top teams and Belgium's number one squad have announced their line-ups for the 38th Tirreno-Adriatico which starts Thursday, March 13 in Sabaudia.

Domina Vacanze Elitron RDZ will be led by world champion Mario Cipollini who will be looking to further increase his tally of victories in Italy's only Hors Categorie stage race (the UCI's highest grade after the three Grand Tours). According to Domina Vacanze direttore sportivo Antonio Salutini, the team is built around Cipollini. "There are three sprint finishes in this Tirreno-Adriatico that will suit the Lion King," said Salutini.

Cipollini will be supported by Daniele Bennati, Gabriele Colombo, Martin Derganc, Santos Gonzalez, Giovanni Lombardi, Alberto Ongarato and Mario Scirea.

While Mario Cipollini goes for stage glory in the sprints, Saeco star and Cyclingnews diarist Danilo De Luca is after the overall victory. Di Luca is aiming for the top spot on the podium after coming second to Erik Dekker (Rabobank) last year and will be using Tirreno-Adriatico as final preparation for another early season goal: Milan-San Remo.

Saeco's team will be rounded out by Stefano Zanini, Dario Pieri, Fabio Sacchi, Alessandro Spezialetti, Paolo Fornaciari, Gerrit Glomser and Alexander Shefer.

Quick-Step Davitamon is also fielding a strong team for Tirreno-Adriatico, with Paolo Bettini and Johan Museeuw at the helm, though their form may be affected by their recent bouts of flu. They will be joined by Davide Bramati, Pedro Horrillo, Servais Knaven, Luca Paolini, Michael Rogers, and Patrick Sinkewitz.

Past winners

2002 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
2001 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Liquigas
2000 Abraham Olano (Spa) ONCE-Deutsche Bank
1999 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Mapei
1998 Rolf Jaermann (Swi) Casino
1997 Roberto Petito (Ita)
1996 Francesco Casagrande (Ita)
1995 Stefano Colage (Ita)
1994 Giorgio Furlan (Ita)
1993 Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)
1992 Rolf Sörensen (Den)
1991 Herminio Diaz-Zabala (Spa)
1990 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1989 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1988 Erich Maechler (Swi)
1987 Rolf Sörensen (Den)
1986 Luciano Rabottoni (Ita)
1985 Joop Zoetemelk (Ned)
1984 Tommy Prim (Swe)
1983 Roberto Visentini (Ita)
1982 Giuseppe Saronni (Ita)
1981 Francesco Moser (Ita)
1980 Francesco Moser (Ita)
1979 Knut Knudsen (Nor)
1978 Giuseppe Saronni (Ita)
1977 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1976 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1975 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1974 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1973 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1972 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
1971 Italo Zilioli (Ita)
1970 Antoine Houbrechts (Bel)
1969 Carlo Chiappano (Ita)
1968 Giovanni Micheletto (Ita)
1967 Franco Bitossi (Ita)
1966 Dino Zandegu (Ita)

 
Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com