GS Alto Garda, 36th Giro del Trentino's organizer, released an updated participants’ list, after the decision of Michele Scarponi, winner of 2011 edition, to be on the starting line in Riva del Garda, pinning the number 1 as the defending champion. Such news definitely changed the scenario ahead of the 36th Giro del Trentino's (April 17 to 20), with new big names in the list of contenders. Team Lampre-ISD, featuring the golden pair Michele Scarponi-Damiano Cunego, looks really strong and could be even able to compete for the opening team time trial win, even though opposition is strong. BMC, Astana, Liquigas, AG2R and Europcar are supposed to be the most competitive teams, in a really valuable test for the teams starting at the next Giro d'Italia.

The TTT will award the first leader's jersey, an interesting opportunity for those riders who won’t be able to contest the uphill finishes to Punta Veleno and Passo Pordoi, after the medium-mountain stage of Sant'Orsola Terme. On the contrary, the teams featuring the right riders for the most demanding courses will focus their attention on the last two days: hoping in the weather's clemency, they seem to be in line for a great show. After all, Giro del Trentino has become a race to win, not a training, even for the big names, paying attention to the tiniest details before the start in Northern Italy.

Yesterday the Astana team, led by captain Roman Kreuziger, went for a recon on Punta Veleno’s slopes, whose tarmac has been recently refurnished. Such a decision tells a lot about the ambition of the team directed by Giuseppe Martinelli: “We won’t be in Trentino for training only. We’ll line-up a very competitive team, and we tested Punta Veleno's climb in a race perspective: we aim to win the Giro del Trentino. We will feature Brajkovic too, whose programs are changed after the crash at Vuelta al Pais Vasco. He's a climber and he can be useful for Kreuziger and race for himself too" Martinelli announced.

On Monday, April 16th, Giro del Trentino's preliminary operations will start at the Casino in Arco (TN). The pre-race press conference with the main protagonists will be held at 4 p.m. 2012 race will have a everyday live coverage by RaiSport2 and Eurosport, enjoying a global visibility, including Asia.

Here is the program of the 36th Giro del Trentino:
April 17th (1st stage, team time trial Riva del Garda – Arco)
Live on Raisport2/Eurosport 14:45 – 16:15 CET

April 18th (2nd stage, Mori – Sant'Orsola Terme/Val dei Mòcheni)
Live on Raisport2/Eurosport ore 13:00 – 14:30 CET

April 19th (3rd stage, Pergine/Coop Piccoli Frutti – Brenzone/Punta Veleno)
Live on Raisport2/Eurosport ore 14:30 – 16:00 CET

April 20th (4th stage, Castelletto di Brenzone – Passo Pordoi/Val di Fassa)
Live on Raisport2/Eurosport ore 14:30 - 16:00 CET

Photo: Daniel Mosna