>From what I've read online at various places, there were entrants invited from modern pro teams which were to be racing together in their own event. These were intended to be in a separate group and starting at a different time. However, they may have overtaken (or, I like to think fallen back) and merged into one of the traditional bike amateur groups.
Perhaps a nice idea for those racers to have a go at the traditional terrain to remind them of their racing heritage. But, I think it was actually to help promote the event more widely with the appearance of some familiar European racing names which could be mentioned in the press.
Let's just hope this does not eventually evolve into an Italian version of the Paris Roubaix, complete with huge media entourage, imposing itself on the lovely countryside. Even if they were to isolate it, scheduled into a different weekend entirely, yes it would bring a lot of money to the local communities, but at what cost.
BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA
************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com