Team RadioShack-Nissan has announced its line-up for the 2012 Giro d'Italia, which starts in Herning, Denmark on Saturday. May 5. The team will be headed by captain Fränk Schleck of Luxembourg after the team's intended Giro d'Italia team captain was forced to withdraw due to an injury.

Schleck, the number three finisher in last year's Tour de France, will lead the nine-man RadioShack-Nissan squad during the three weeks of intensive racing through Denmark and Italy. Schleck, initially not slated to ride the race, replaces Jakob Fuglsang, suffering from an inflammation of the articular capsule and ligament of the left knee.

"My season was directed at peaking in the Tour (de France)," Schleck commented and added "but when you think about it, this situation creates opportunities. For sure, I will come to the start with a different preparation than the other general classification riders, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. My condition is not so bad and it can only improve over the coming weeks. The Tour of Italy is one of the big monuments of cycling as well, so it is at least a big challenge for me."

"I see a lot of opportunities for Fränk as well as for the team," Team RadioShack-Nissan manager Johan Bruyneel told Roadcycling.com.

"Fränk is a born leader and the team needs a leader. Moreover, though bad luck and circumstances did not provide the right results, he has shown in the last few weeks that his condition has already reached a high level. I am confident he can surprise us in the Giro in the coming weeks. It all reminds me of the 2008 Tour of Italy when, one week before the start, we got an invitation for the race. In the end we won the race Overall," Bruyneel continued.

Team Radioshack-Nissan Roster for the 2012 Giro d'Italia:
Fränk Schleck, Daniele Bennati, Thomas Rohregger, Jan Bakelants, Ben Hermans, Giacomo Nizzolo, Nelson Oliveira, Jesse Sergent, and Oliver Zaugg.

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