High Road says it has been invited to the Giro

Team High Road officials say the team will start May’s Giro d’Italia, despite reports earlier this month that the race’s organizers would ban the U.S.-based team.

The team will hold a news conference Friday afternoon in Palo Alto, California, to announce its participation in several events organized by RCS Sport, including the Giro d’Italia.

A team press release quotes Angelo Zomegnan, the director general of RCS Sport.

“After careful and diligent review, RCS Sport is glad to confirm its confidence in Team High Road and its promising riders, and invite the new USA registered team at our races starting, in chronological order, with Monte Paschi Eroica on March 3rd, Tirreno Adriatico, Milano- San Remo, Giro d’Italia, Giro del Lazio, Giro del Piemonte e Giro di Lombardia,” Zomegnan said in the release.

On February 1st, Zomegnan released a list of 21 teams RCS was inviting to the tour. Besides High Road, the initial invite list snubbed Astana, Crédit Agricole, Bouygues Telecom and Acqua e Sapone.

At the time, organizers said they retained the right to withdraw invitations “at any moment” and the selection criteria included “ethics, quality, internationalism and relationship history with (organizer) RCS Sport.”

RCS said they used the following criteria to make their decisions: ethics, quality, the international interest of their respective teams and long-term relationships with race organizing company RCS.

Friday’s High Road press release did not say why RCS Sport has changed it mind.

It was not immediately clear whether any other teams left off the initial list will now be invited, or which, if any, teams will be left out to make room for High Road.

Team owner Bob Stapleton thanked RCS Sport for the inclusion.

“These are some of the most spectacular sporting events in the world and we plan to come with excellent athletes and extraordinary motivation,” he said.

FILED UNDER: Road