Chinese rider set for second major Tour

PARIS (AFP) –

Chinese racer Cheng Ji (Skil-Shimano) rides during the 94th Liege-Bastogne-Liege cycling race between Liege and Ans on April 27, 2008. Ji will embark on his second major Tour this Saturday after he was selected in the Argos team for the Giro d’Italia on Monday.

Chinese cyclist Ji Cheng will embark on his second major Tour this Saturday after he was selected in the Argos team for the Giro d’Italia on Monday.

The 25-year-old – who finished his first major Tour the Tour of Spain last year – will be expected to help the Dutch team’s German leader John Degenkolb to collect several stage wins.

Degenkolb, 24, hasn’t been in the best of form this campaign, a ninth in the Tour of Flanders his most notable result, but his five stage wins in last year’s Tour of Spain showed he had the right mentality for the gruelling major Tours.

Ji said that the team were in good shape and had enjoyed an ideal preparation for the race that starts in Naples and for which last year’s Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins is favourite to add to his honours.

“We have had a very good preparation,” said Ji.

“A training session in Altea (Spain) and the Tour of Turkey,” he said.

“I will be more than satisfied if we can win a stage and if I finish the race. I am expecting a huge fight.”

Radioschack also announced their team on Monday.

Teams:

Argos: Bert De Backer (BEL), Thomas Damuseau (FRA), John Degenkolb (GER), Patrick Gretsch (GER), Ji Cheng (CHN), Koen de Kort (NED), Tobias Ludvigsson (SWE), Luka Mezgec (SLO); Albert Timmer (NED)

RadioShack: George Bennett (NZL), Danilo Hondo (GER), Robert Kiserlovski (CRO), Tiago Machado (POR), Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA), Nelson Oliveira (POR), Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Hayden Roulston (NZL), Jesse Sergent (NZL)