The 2007 Giro d’Italia Lineup
Yaroslav Popovych
Volodomyr Bileka
Steve Cummings
Pavel Padrnos
Jose Luis “Chechu” Rubiera
Tomas Vaitkus
Brian Vandborg
Jurgen Van Goolen
Matthew White

The Giro is the first three-week stage race of the year and the major event preceding the Tour de France. After the Ivan Basso resignation from the team, followed by his seemingly partial confessions to his involvement in blood doping, it would appear that this year , the squad will focus their efforts on placing team leader, Yaroslav Popovych, as high up as possible in the overall standings.

According to Sean Yates, Discovery Channel lead Sports Director for the Giro…..
“[Ivan] Basso leaving our squad was certainly a loss but is not a disaster,” said Yates. “Popo was always preparing to do a good Giro and I think he is on form. If all goes right for him I think he can be on the podium like he has been in the past.” “Aside from working for Popo we will try to win at least one stage and wear the leaders jersey too, but that can be complicated and waste energy. We have a strong group of guys with a lot of experience in grand tours and Popo will need all of their help and wisdom to get him onto the podium.”

Typically, their Tour de France lineup includes some, but not all the riders of the Giro. And they do not select the same leader for both. Though they possibly would have with Ivan. So, what does this mean for the Tour?
Coming up next, is my prediction of the selections for the 2007 Tour de France.

The 2006 Giro lineup was:
Paolo Savoldelli
Tom Danielson
Manuel Beltran Martinez
Viatcheslav Ekimov
Benoit Joachim
Jason Mccartney
Pavel Padrnos
José Luis Rubiera Vigil
Matthew White

Then they followed up with a 2006 Tour lineup of:
George Hincapie
Yaroslav Popovych
Paolo Savoldelli
Jose Azevedo
Egoi Martinez
Pavel Padrnos
Viatcheslav Ekimov
Benjamin Noval
Jose Luis Rubiera

…..still working on it…..

George Hincapie – Back after his accident, and riding in his first Giro replacing injured Tomas Vaitkus, but that won’t keep this guy from the Tour de France
Yaroslav Popovych – Will be the leader in the Giro since Basso cannot, will ride in the Tour as well, but not as the leader.
Jose Azevedo – Great Climber. The team will need his help.
Egoi Martinez -  Had some difficulty last year but should be back for more.
Pavel Padrnos – Strong rider that has ridden in both the Giro and Tour before.
Benjamin Noval – Has 3 years of the Tour with Discovery. He should return.
Jose Luis Rubiera – Another good climber, he should return.

Levi Leipheimer – Came to Discovery to be a team leader, and I think he expected to be the leader at the Tour from the day he signed.

Tom Danielson – Has not ridden a Tour de France yet. He is 29 and has gained enough experience. I think he will be the choice to fill the last slot.

Paolo Savoldelli – Signed with Astana
Viatcheslav Ekimov – Retired