Veteran Gustov replaces Tanner in Saxo Bank’s Giro lineup
Veteran Volodymir Gustov replaces the injured David Tanner in Saxo Bank's Giro lineup
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Saxo Bank has announced that veteran Ukrainian Volodymir Gustov is getting called up for the team’s roster for the Giro d’Italia starting in Herning, Denmark, Saturday.
The 35-year-old from Kiev will start his 20th grand tour: He’s ridden Italy’s tour seven times and supported Carlos Sastre during his 2008 Tour de France victory. Gustov replaces Australian David Tanner who is nursing injuries from a recent crash, according to a team press release.
“David bruised his ribs in a crash in Circuit de la Sarthe earlier this month, and unfortunately he is still affected by this, sport director Brad McGee said. “He doesn’t feel he is back to his best, as we had all hoped.
“This is of course a huge disappointment for David, but considering the Giro d’Italia would have been his first-ever grand tour, he, our doctor, and the team’s sport directors agree that his current conditions are not compatible with starting the Giro,” he continued.
Tanner, who rode as a stagiaire with Barloworld in 2008, broke through two years ago with stage wins at the Tour de Beauce, Tour of Utah and Tour of China for Fly V Australia. He landed with Saxo Bank at the end of the 2010 season, avoiding the Pegasus Racing disaster that left most of that failed team’s riders without employment. Tanner will miss his grand tour debut, a solid blow in a contract season for the 27-year-old Australian.
The complete Saxo Bank roster for this year’s Giro: Juan Jose Haedo, Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Argentina), Anders Lund, Jonas Aaen, Mads Christensen (Denmark), Luke Roberts (Australia), Manuele Boaro, Matteo Tosatto (Italy) and Volodymir Gustov (Ukraine).