By AFP via BikeRadar.com
The 2009 Giro d'Italia takes place on 9-31 May.
Spanish cycling team Fuji, formerly known as Saunier Duval, have not been invited to participate in this year's centenary edition of the Giro d'Italia.
The race organisers released their first list of participants for the 9-31 May race on Wednesday, including 14 of the 18 ProTour-licenced teams.
Cofidis, Euskaltel and Francaise des Jeux have decided not to take part in the Giro d’Italia, but Fuji were eligible for selection based on their ranking.
Tainted by doping scandals involving former riders Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli (both of whom were sacked by the team), Fuji have also been left out of the Giro organisers' two other major races: Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo.
Six second-rank teams - Acqua e Sapone, Cervelo, ISD, LPR, Serramenti and Xacobeo - were invited to take part in the Giro.
Teams invited to compete in the Giro d'Italia (as of 28 January):
* Belgium: Quick Step, Silence
* Denmark: Saxo Bank
* France: AG2R, Bouygues Telecom
* Germany: Milram
* Ireland: LPR
* Italy: Acqua e Sapone, ISD, Lampre, Liquigas
* Kazakhstan: Astana
* Netherlands: Rabobank
* Russia: Katusha
* Spain: Caisse d'Epargne, Xacobeo
* Switzerland: Cervelo
* United States: Garmin, Columbia
* Venezuela: Serramenti
Regards
Andrew
