Americans Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer head the Astana cycling team set for the forthcoming Giro d'Italia.
Seven-time Tour de France winner and Leipheimer on the way to Italy
Americans Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer head the Astana cycling team set for the forthcoming Giro d'Italia.
Leipheimer and Armstrong, making his return from a broken collarbone, took first and second place in last week's Tour of the Gila five-stage race in New Mexico, where they competed alongside compatriot Chris Horner.
The trio are among six nations are represented in the group, which contains former Discovery Channel team-mates Jose Luis Rubiera of Spain and the Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych.
Leipheimer, who has won the Tour of California and the Tour of Castilla y Leon this season, finished 18th in last year's Giro, while Armstrong will be making his first appearance at the prestigious event starting in Venice on Saturday.
"I would be disappointed if I didn't win one stage and I don't care if it's a mountain stage or a time trial," Armstrong said.
"Whilst at the beginning of the year the objective was to be a contender I am not sure that still will be the case with the crash that I had about a month ago."
Astana team: Lance Armstrong (USA), Jani Brajkovic (SLO), Chris Horner (USA), Levi Leipheimer (USA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Daniel Navarro (ESP), Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Jose Luis Rubiera (ESP), Andrey Zeits (KAZ).
