August 3/07 9:17 am - Michael Barry to Race Clasica San Sebastian

Posted by Editor on 08/3/07
 

Michael Barry to Race Clasica San Sebastian
Courtesy T-Mobile

For its first Pro Tour race following the Tour de France, the T-Mobile Team will take part in the 27th Clasica San Sebastian. The team will be led in northern Spain by Tour seventh-placed rider Kim Kirchen from Luxembourg.

The 29-year-old will be joined at this "climbing feast" by a number of mountain specialists such as 37-year-old Giuseppe Guerini from Italy as well as two Australians, Scott Davis and Adam Hansen. The one German on the magenta roster will be the Gent-Wevelgem winner, Marcus Burghardt. The highly experienced seven-strong squad will be completed by Briton Roger Hammond and Canadian Michael Barry.

"Because of some injured riders and parallel races at the weekend, we've had to improvise a little," explains sporting director, Allan Peiper. "But we believe that around Kirchen and Guerini, we'll have a strong team at the start in Spain."

The course is a classic layout, 225 km long, selective, with six climbs to be tackled along the way. The heat in this part of Spain in August is expected to play a major role along with the attacking style of the home teams. The twenty pro teams taking part will be joined by three wildcard teams from the Spanish second division - Relax, Fuerteventura and Karpin.

The demanding course profile has traditionally set up many tense and fascinating finishes. The 8 km long climb up the (Cat1) Jazibel, after 195 km at a gradient of up to 8% has been the defining moment of the race for the past few years. At just 30 km before the finish, any podium candidates will need to show here.

"Riders should not get caught up in unnecessary attacks during the race. Whoever wants to end up in front at the end must divide his efforts properly so as to still have some reserves left when the favourites decide to go for it on the Jaizkibel," explains Peiper.

The T-Mobile roster:

Michael Barry (Canada)
Marcus Burghardt (Germany)
Scott Davis (Australia)
Giuseppe Guerini (Italy)
Roger Hammond (Great Britain)
Adam Hansen (Australia)
Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg)