Menchov to lead Rabobank in Giro d'Italia

Rabobank on Monday announced their team for the three-week Giro d'Italia which begins in Venice on Saturday.

Russia's Denis Menchov will carry their hopes of a strong result in the general classification.

Menchov has had a quiet start to the 2009 season as he builds his fitness for the grand tour challenges with his best result a fifth placing in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon.

Menchov won the Tour of Spain in 2005 and 2007 and finished fifth in last year's Giro.

Rabobank team for the Giro d'Italia:

Mauricio Ardila (COL), Laurens ten Dam (NED), Jos van Emden (NED), Bram de Groot (NED), Pedro Horrillo (ESP), Dmitriy Kozontchuk (RUS), Denis Menchov (RUS), Tom Stamsnijder (NED), Pieter Weening (NED)