Giro favourite Basso preaches patience

This year's Giro d'Italia will be won by a rider who stays calm and does not try to go flat out on every stage, favourite Ivan Basso said.

The centenary edition of the world's second biggest stage race starts with a team time trial on the Lido in Venice today and finishes on May 31 in Rome.

"The rider who wants to win must race calmly, you can't get stressed every day," 2006 winner Basso told a news conference.

"I feel pressure but I am used to it. I am staying calm, I am in the condition I wanted."

The Liquigas rider, who returned to action in October, served a two-year ban after admitting his involvement in Spain's Operation Puerto doping scandal but denied he actually doped.

Basso is staying wary of seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong despite the American ruling himself out of contention after only just recovering from a broken collarbone.

"You don't know Lance. When he gets going, he's scary," the Italian said.

Armstrong tipped Basso and American team-mate Levi Leipheimer.

"My favourites are Ivan and Leipheimer," he said.

"For the Italians, this is a special race, they are really motivated."

The teams were on Thursday presented to a crowd in Venice's famous St Mark's Square amid blissful sunshine. The top riders then took a ride in a gondola.

Last year's winner Alberto Contador is skipping the Giro to concentrate on July's Tour.