After the early season classic races Schwalbe Race Support followed Teams Liquigas and Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli to the Giro d’Italia.

Tire selection is playing an ever increasing role in road racing – a little like Formula 1. Christian Lademann of Schwalbe Race Support has inside his support vehicle the right tire model and width for each stage of the Giro d’Italia. Whether for mountain stages, dry roads, or changing weather conditions – the correct rubber compound can shave off important seconds, because it is imperative, as in motor-sport, to have the fastest tire with the best grip for the prevailing conditions. „For example when it suddenly starts to rain, with the right rubber compound I can ride several seconds faster“, said 32 year old Lademann who is, himself a professional racer specializing in 6 day races.

Above all he views his task of Race Support as providing riders with the most suitable tire choice for the prevailing race conditions, Additionally he is the link between the teams and Schwalbe’s development department. Lademann: „Only under the extreme conditions experienced in the Alpine stages of the Giro d’Italia, or in the early season classic races are materials tested to their limits. This knowledge is important for the further development of our tires. Where else, except with such teams, can we get such feedback and information about our tires?“

Since the beginning of 2009 the Italian ProTour Team Liquigas has been equipped with Schwalbe tires and riders Ivan Basso, Daniele Bennati and Francesco Chicchi have set themselves greater goals for 2009: The Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. The Italian Continental Pro Team Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli (Captain: Gilberto Simoni) has been riding Schwalbe for more than ten years.