The Italian team from Bruno Cenghialta will start with a young group of riders. For a lot of them it will be the first Tour of their lives.

In the mountains the team has a lot of candidates for top-10 places, or who knows for a victory: Laurent Dufaux, Andrea Noé (who rode really well in the Giro), Pietro Caucchioli and Franco Pellizotti.

Also in the sprint, Alessio has a good chance with Fabio Baldato (who won a stage in the Giro, after the disqualification of Mc Ewen) and Angelo Furlan.

Other riders are Alessandro Bertolini, Raffaele Ferrara and Vladimir Miholjevic.

The Riders

Fabio Baldato
13/06/1968, Lonigo (Ita)
1991                Del Tongo MG
1992-1994       GB – MG
1995-1997       MG Technogym
1998                Riso Scotti
1999                Ballan
2000-2002       Fassa Bortolo
2003                Alessio

Fabio Baldato has a lot of experience, so he can guide the younger riders in their first Tour. When the real top-sprinters have an off-day, he can sprint to a victory.

Fabio Baldato. Courtesy Alessio.

Alessandro Bertolini
27/07/1971, Rovereto (Ita)
1993-1995            Carrera
1996                Brescialat
1997                MG Technogym
1998                Cofidis
1999                Mobilvetta
2000-2003       Alessio

He is one of the least known riders. Alessandro Bertolini had a few physical problems this year: he couldn’t start in GP Erik Breukink (influenza) and also the Tour of Luxembourg came at the wrong moment; he had a few micro-fractures.

Alessandro Bertolini. Courtesy Alessio.

Pietro Caucchioli
28/08/1975, Bovolone (Ita)
1999-2000       Amica Chips – Tacconi Sport
2001-2003       Alessio

Caucchioli finished the Giro d’Italia, but he wasn’t in top condition. In the Route du Sud, he ended second in the general ranking, after Michael Rogers.

Pietro Caucchioli. Courtesy Alessio.

Laurent Dufaux
20/05/1969, Roche (Sui)
1991-1992            Helvetia
1993-1994            Once
1995-1998            Festina
1999-2001            Saeco
2002-2003            Alessio

Dufaux won a stage in the Tour du Romandie, after Francisco Perez took the wrong route. He is always very motivated for the Tour de France.

Laurent Dufaux. Courtesy Alessio.

Raffaele Ferrara
03/10/1976, Napoli (Ita)
2001-2003            Alessio

The comedian from the team! Always screaming and laughing…In Milaan Sanremo he fell and injured his back. We have seen very little of this promising Italian.

Raffaele Ferrara. Courtesy Alessio.

Angelo Furlan
22/06/1977, Arzignano (Ita)
2001-2003            Alessio

He rode the Giro, but things did not go as planned. Maybe he can do better in the Tour.

Angelo Furlan. Photo by Karen Lambrecht.

Vladimir Miholjevic
18/01/1974, Zagreb (Cro)
1997-2001            KRKA
2002-2003            Alessio

Vladimir Miholjevic. Photo by Karen Lambrecht

 Andrea Noé
15/01/1969, Magenta (Ita)
1993-1995            Mapei
1997-1998            Asics
1999-2002            Mapei – Quick Step
2003                      Alessio

Noé finished fourth in the Giro d’Italia.

Andrea Noe. Photo by Karen Lambrecht

Franco Pellizotti
15/01/1978, Latisana (Ita)
2001-2003            Alessio

Franco Pellizotti was 9th in the Giro d’Italia. He was always in front with the group, but at the end of each stage, he couldn’t follow.

Franco Pellizotti. Photo by Karen Lambrecht