Italian champion Gianni Savio makes his return to the Giro d'Italia for the first time since 2009 when he lines up as the leader of the Androni team on the start line in Naples. With 6 Italians, 2 Venezuelans and one Colombian he is the leader of a multi-national team that hopes to ride an aggressive team.

Gianni Savio's Androni team has always been known as an animator of the Giro d'Italia with the likes of Michele Scarponi and Jose Rujano playing prominent roles for the team in recent years. Last year the pro continental team once again proved its ability to compete with cycling's best teams when Miguel Angel Rubiano and Roberto Ferrari both took a stage win in another highly successful Giro for the Italian team.

This year the squad is back to repeat last year's success as the team once again won the teams classification of the Coppa Italia which - due to an agreement to Giro organizers RCS Sport and the Italian cycling federation - automatically secured an invitation to Italy's biggest race. Despite the absence of the likes of Ferrari, Rujano and Jose Serpa who have all left the team, Gianni Savio is once again able to present a very strong line-up.

The leader is Italian champion Franco Pellizotti who was third overall in 2009. However, he was suspended for two years due to irregularities in his biological passport in 2010 and made his comeback in May 2012 with the Androni team. He showed immediately that he was ready to compete with the best and a victory in the Italian championships, 4th place in the Vuelta a Burgos, 5th in the Giro di Padania and 3rd in the Giro dell'Emilia were all testament to his high level.

This year he has had a quiet start to the season as he has been slowly building for the Giro but he showed signs of life with an 11th place in the final hard summit finish to Sega di Ala in the Giro del Trentino. He feels ready to lead the Androni team and his objective is to once again be in the battle for a top 10 place in the GC.

He will be supported by a very versatile team which will once again be able to express the offensive attitude of the team. Last year's stage winner Miguel Angel Rubiano, Emanuele Sella and Jackson Rodriguez are known as relentless attackers in the mountains while Giairo Ermeti and Tomas Gil are loyal domestiques who should be able to provide Pellizotti with the required support. Neo-professional Diego Rosa has been one of the revelations of the season and had a fantastic performance as one of the strongest of the early break in the Milan-Sanremo which earned him a place in the team's line-up. An overall 16th place in the Giro del Trentino is another testament to his talents.

Mattia Gavazzi will defend the team's chances in the sprints and the Italian is coming into form with a win in the Giro della Toscana on Sunday. Finally, the team also boasts the hugely talented Fabio Felline who debuted in the race last year and who will be able to take his chance in the races suited to his classics specialists or in the sprint stages that prove to be too hard for Gavazzi.

"Our captain will of course be the Italian champion Franco Pellizotti who will go for a good GC result and will be supported by both experienced and young riders like Fabio Felline and neo-pro Diego Rosa," Gianni Savio said. "However, all of our athletes will be able to take their own chance by going on the attack in search of a stage win or to help our captain. Sprinter Mattia Gavazzi is already focused on the first stage in Naples and the last day which finishes in Brescia in his home region."

Starting on Saturday you can follow all the action from the Giro on CyclingQuotes.com/live.

Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela for the Giro d'Italia: Franco Pellizotti, Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez, Emanuele Sella, Jackson Rodriguez, Tomas Gil, Diego Roas, Giairo Ermeti, Fabio Felline and Mattia Gavazzi