Following the team's expulsion from racing as part of the UCI's March 1 suspension order for Russian and Belarusian teams, Gazprom Rusvelo riders are on the sidelines as the spring season progresses in their absence.

Invitations to races such as the Trofeo Raigeria, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milan-Torino, and Milan-San Remo have been denied to the team, which includes 12 foreigners and seven Italians, as the team looks for a new sponsor before the end of March.

However, some of the team's Italian riders will return to racing this week, as the Italian National Team announced a "Solidarity National Team" for Sunday's Per Sempre Alfredo and this week's Settimana Coppi e Bartali.

For Per Sempre Alfredo (a one-day race in the Tuscan hills), the Italian national team will feature four Gazprom Rusvelo riders: Alessandro Fedeli, Giovanni Carboni, Nicola Consi and Marco Canola.

Cristian Scaroni will participate in the five-day Settimana Coppi e Bartali, which starts Tuesday in Riccione.

"Our philosophy, especially with regard to the Italian riders on the Gazprom team, is to make sure they do their best until the situation they are involved in is resolved. In the meantime, we feel we are providing them with an opportunity to show off."

All riders currently under contract with Gazprom Rusvelo are free to seek other contracts, per UCI action.

However, team manager Renato Camidulin and rider agent Alex Carrera have confirmed that all riders will wait until the team sponsorship deadline of March 27 before attempting to move.

"We have a team with the right balance and level," said Italian national coach Daniele Bennati. 'The players who have carefully prepared for Tirreno - Adriatico and Milan - Sanremo will start.'

"They are show-offs, ambitious, and as Federciclismo, we are close to them in this difficult time.

Antonio Tiberi (Trek Segafredo), Cristian Sbaragli (Alpecin Phoenix) and Lorenzo Milesi (Team DSM) complete Per Sempre Alfredo's Italian squad. Gabriele Petrelli (Friuli Cycling Team) and Edoardo Falesin (Zalf-Euromobil-Desiree-Fiol) will race in the Settimana Coppi e Bartali with five Gazprom Rusvelo.