ASTARLOA TO LEAD TEAM BARLOWORLD AT TOUR OF BRITAIN

South African sponsored Pro-Continental cycling team, Team Barloworld will join an elite group of cyclists who will battle it out for the prestigious Tour of Britain title when the tour starts in Glasgow on Tuesday, August 29.

The team will be spearheaded by the 2003 World Champion Igor Astarloa. The Spaniard returns to cycling after recovering from a serious bout of dermatitis caused by an allergy a few weeks ago.

The strong contingent of teammates who compliment Astarloa include South African 2005 National Champion Ryan Cox, and 2004 stage winner at the Tour of Britain Enrico Degano (Ita).

Degano has bagged four victories this season already, and poses a huge threat at the Tour where he also finished in a close second in the final stage of the Tour of Britain in 2005.

“We have done well at this Tour in previous years, and look forward to riding the mostly flat routes. Our team includes ace sprinters who are certain to get a good result,” says Claudio Corti, Team Manager, Team Barloworld.

Giosué Bonomi (Ita), Mads Christensen (Den) and Hugo Sabido complete the team.

Competing against the top five Pro-Tour teams including T-Mobile, CSC and Davitamon will not deter Team Barloworld in gunning for more wins, especially following teammate Felix Cardenas (Col) win over Pro-Tour favourites at the GP Industria & Artigianato in Italy last Thursday.

Cardenas raced to his third victory this season beating Jakob Pill (Team CSC) and Kanstantsin Siutsou (Acqua e Sapone). Earlier this season Degano went on to beat legendary Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) for the second time in three days at the GP Costa Azul in Portugal.

“Team Barloworld have proven to be worthy contenders after outstanding performances in Pro-Tour races they were invited to during this season. We have 15 wins already, and are confident we will get more,” said Valerio Tebaldi, Directeur Sportif, Team Barloworld.

The Tour of Britain covers six stages over six days, with the first stage starting in Glasgow. The Tour then passes through the Northwest, Yorkshire and the West Midlands. The fifth stage is in the South East of England while stage six ends in the British capital and sees the riders competing on a 20 lap circuit and crossing the finish line outside Buckingham Palace.