Tuscany-based Ukrainian team ISD-Danieli looks like it will be the home of cycling’s latest comeback, Michele Bartoli.
Team Director Angelo Citracca told radsport-news.com confidently, “I would say the probability of signing Bartoli is 99 percent.”
If this materializes, the 38-year-old will be joining former protege Giovanni Visconti. Visconti has began to come into his own winning the Italian national championship in 2007, and wearing the pink jersey for seven days at the Giro d’Italia this past year.
Bartoli registered with the UCI in November which means he would be eligible to ride the Giro d’Italia in May should the team decide to send him. If he does return he has maintained it will be for the fun and passion of the sport.
In his prime Bartoli was one of the world’s best classics riders. He has wins in many of the biggest one-day races including Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Tour of Flanders, the Amstel Gold Race and the Tour of Lombardy. His one regret was not winning Paris-Roubaix.