PARIS, May 4, 2009 (AFP) – The Russian cycling team Katusha will be without Australia’s Robbie McEwen for the Giro d’Italia, which begins on Saturday, and on Monday named Italy’s Filippo Pozzato as their team leader for the race.

“Robbie has not yet completely recovered from his fall at the Grand Prix de l’Escaut,” said the team’s sporting director, Serge Parsani.

“We couldn’t take the risk of losing him during the early stages. He will rest and prepare himself for the Tour de France.”

Katusha team for the Giro d’Italia:
Filippo Pozzato (ITA), Evgeni Petrov (RUS), Christian Pfannberger (AUT), Ben Swift (GBR), Mikhail Ignatyev (RUS), Pavel Brutt (RUS), Serguei Klimov (RUS), Nikita Eskov (RUS), Luca Mazzanti (ITA)