Giro D'Italia -  Team CSC Preview
The worlds number one team arrives in Sicily for the Giro ready to steal the show especially when it comes to the contests against time.

By: Andrew Kappes

The worlds number one Team, CSC will bring the usual loaded squad to this year's Giro D'Italia. The team will be lead by Classics specialist Fabian Cancellara. The world time trial champion is expected to exit the race before the final week in June, but a good performance in the time trials and mountains could change his mind.

World Champion Fabian Cancellara 2007 Tour of California Prologue Photo c. Mark Adkison Phd.

CSC will be looking for wins early, especially in the time trials. It is a personal goal of Cancellara to wear the pink leader's jersey of the Giro. Cancellara isn't a great climber, but with his time trailing  ability he could make a run for the maglia rosa. It's only a question of whether if Cancellara will stay in the race for the final week, and I think that will be determined by how far he is up on the GC.

CSC brings a deep team alongside Cancellara, including young Andy Schleck. Andy is the little brother of Frank Schleck, and many think he is a brighter prospect. Andy Schleck has already found success in his young career, he was the national time trial champion of Luxembourg in 2005, won two stages at the Sachsen Tour in 2006, and he also won the King of the Mountains competition at the 2006 Tour of  Britain. Schleck the younger, also performed well in the Ardennes classics showing real grit alongside the tough classics competitors.

Dave Zabriskie and J.J. Haedo at Spring Camp. Photo c. Alan Crawford CSC

Americans will have something to cheer about in CSC, Dave Zabriskie will ride this year's Giro. Dave Z knows what it takes to when a stage in the Giro, he won Stage 8 in 2005. He is currently the only American to have won a stage at all three grand tours. His Prologue win at the 2005 Tour de France was the fastest ever, at 54.68 km/h. 2006 was a great season for Dave Z, he won two time trial stages at the Dauphine Libere. In addition, he also won the American national Time Trial Championship, and he was second at the world championships so the fans will see two American National jerseys with Zabriskie in the TT's and Hincapie on Discovery, flying the red, white and blue on the road stages.

Zabriskie Tour of California.   Photo c. Mark Adkison Phd.

This time last year JJ Haedo was racing for the American continental team Toyota/United Pro. How things can change in a year. Haedo is now the main sprinter on the powerful CSC, and he is confirmed to start for the red, white, and black.

The 26-year old Argentinean made a name for himself last year at the Tour of California, where he won two stages at the Tour of California. He followed that up with a win at the 2006 Tour de Georgia. He picked up right where he left off last year, this time in the European Pro Tour. In addition to stage and sprint titles in the Tour of California and Tour de Georgia, Haedo has also won the Colliers Classic and Rund um Köln, an auspicious European debut. In the Giro Juan Jose will face the talents of Milram's Ale Jet Petacchi who is hell bent on adding to his 19 Giro victories.

CSC should continue to dominate the headlines at this year's Giro, even without a bonified GC contender. If Cancellara can climb well, he will make a run for the overall title. CSC will most likely rack up a few wins, especially in the time trial stages. The rest of the riders in the team are a well picked crew of rolleurs and sprint machine to ensure victories in more that just the races against the clock.

Team CSC Giro d'Italia Squad:
181. Fabian Cancellara (Swi)
182. Andy Schleck (Lux)
183. David Zabriskie (USA)
184. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus)
185. Juan José Haedo (Arg)
186. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (N)
187. Matti Breschel (Dk)
188. Michael Blaudzun (Dk)
189. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr)