MILAN (AP) — Tour de France winner Alberto Contador heads the list of cyclists entered for next month’s Giro d’Italia.
Organizers released the list of 23 teams Thursday for the May 7-29 race.
Other riders include Vincenzo Nibali and Michele Scarponi, plus former winners Denis Menchov, Danilo Di Luca and Stefano Garzelli. Mark Cavendish and Alessandro Petacchi are the top sprinters.
Notable absences include defending champion Ivan Basso, who is focusing on the Tour de France this year, and 2004 winner Damiano Cunego.
Teams can change riders before the start.
The race will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification. It begins in Turin, passing through Sicily and ending in Milan.
