PARIS, Jan 28, 2009 (AFP) – Spanish cycling team Fuji, formerly known as Saunier Duval, have not been invited to participate in this year’s Centenary edition of the Giro d’Italia.

The race organizers released their first list of participants for the May
9-31 race on Wednesday, with 14 of the 18 ProTour-licensed teams included.

Cofidis, Euskatel and Francaise des Jeux have decided not to take part in cycling’s second most prestigious tour, but Fuji were eligible for selection on the basis of their ranking.

Tainted by doping scandals involving their former riders Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli (both of whom have been sacked by the team), Fuji have also been left out of the Giro organizers’ two other major races, Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo.

Six second-rank teams – Acqua e Sapone, Cervelo, ISD, LPR, Serramenti and Xacobeo – were invited to take part in the Giro.

Teams invited to compete in the Giro d’Italia (as of January 28):
Belgium: Quick Step, Silence
Denmark: Saxo Bank
France: AG2R, Bouygues Telecom
Germany: Milram
Ireland: LPR
Italy: Acqua e Sapone, ISD, Lampre, Liquigas
Kazakhstan: Astana
Netherlands: LPR
Russia: Katusha
Spain: Caisse d’Epargne, Xacobeo
Switzerland: Cervelo
United States: Garmin, Columbia
Venezuela: Serramenti