Tour de France stars to participate in Mumbai cyclothon

Three-time holder of the green jersey sprinters' classification at Tour de France, Robbie McEwen and Elia Vivani, who represent RadioShack of the USA are among the cyclists who will participate in a two-stage international Class I cycling race to be held in Nashik and Mumbai next month.

Another international team that will make its presence felt at the cycling event will be Italy's top team Liquigas.

RadioShack, that has cycling legend Lance Armstrong on its roster, and Liquigas are two of the top professional cycling teams.

Apart from McEwen, others representing the USA team are New Zealander Sam Bewley, a bronze medal winner in Beijing Olympics, five-time South African cyclist of the year Robbie Hunter, double European champion Michal Kwiatkowski from Poland, Japanese Fumiyuki Beppu and American Bjorn Selander.

The Italian team will be represented Elia Vivani, who finished first pro-season by winning the Memorial Marco Pantani and the Memorial Frank Vandenbroucke. Others to represent the team include Italian Tiziano Dall'Antonia, multiple time member of USA World Championship team Timothy Duggan, American Edward King, and Alan Marangoni.

However, with Tour Down Under being reported to be his last race, seven-time Tour De France winner Armstrong is not likely to participate in the event.

Meanwhile, the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) has also shortlisted India's best cyclists to participate in the Tour de Mumbai I & II.

The two legs of the international race, offering $50,000 to the winner, will be held in Nashik on February 11 and in Mumbai on February 13.

The first leg will cover 158 kms, while the second leg will cover 117 kms.

The Mumbai Cyclothon would start and end at MET, Bandra with participants pedalling along the scenic Rajiv Gandhi Bandra-Worli Sea Link en route.

In Nashik, it will begin and end at Nashik Gate and move along to the Bhosale College Circle. For the professional riders the race will also go on to the picturesque and challenging Kasara Ghat.

The two cyclothons are to be held jointly by Swiss-based world cycling body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) in partnership with ID Sports -- a sports management firm.