Giro team shaping up

While the fact that Mikel Nieve will lead the team at this year's Giro d'Italia has been known for quite a while already, the name of the riders who'll accompany the featherweight escalador has largely been kept under wraps until now. As the riders were heading out for another day in the saddle in the warmth of Alicante yesterday, the team leaders shed some light on who'll form the crux of the team come May.

Gara reports Miguel Mínguez will return to the site of his breakthrough in 2011, while Jon Izagirre will be given his first taste of three-week action. Amets Txurruka, who's almost exclusively focussed on the Tour in the past, will be one of Nieve's key helpers on a terrain that should suit him more than the French countryside. Iván Velasco will be the other climber designated to aid Nieve in his search for a top ten on general classification, while the rock solid Juan José Oroz will also do his part to ensure the conqueror of Gardeccia keeps out of trouble.

New-boy Adrián Sáez, who made a solid impression at the Tour Down Under recently, is likely to make his Grand Tour bow, while there may also be room for youngsters like Peio Bilbao or perhaps even a fit-again Romain Sicard in the line-up.

Quite a few of the riders doubled up on the Giro and the Vuelta last year, and that's likely to be the case again this season. However, only one rider is likely to go on to the Grand Boucle in July after completing the Giro.