Italian will now have the opportunity to contest bigger races
The Lampre-Farnese Vini team has brought climber Michele Scarponi onto the squad for the 2011 season. He signed a two-year deal with the squad.
The Italian has ridden for the Androni Giocattoli team since he returned to the sport in June of 2008 after completing a doping suspension. Scarponi, a former rider on Manolo Saiz’s Liberty Seguros-Würth team, admitted his involvement in the Operación Puerto scandal.
The 30 year old has eighteen victories to his name including three stages in the Giro d’Italia – two in 2009 and one in this year’s edition. Along with his Giro success, he won stage four of the Tirreno-Adriatico, and the prologue and overall at the Settimana Lombarda this season.
“Scarponi is a rider that is able to excite the fans,” said Lampre General Manager Giuseppe Saronni. “He is a fighter who also knows how to combine generously to show great class.
“Scarponi has indeed proven to be competitive in both short stage races, as for example the Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as in the Grand Tours and this proves Michele to be a very valuable athlete in the spirit of the World Rankings,” he concluded.
The Italian has not had the opportunity to do some of the more important races for the last two seasons, and looks forward to racing with a ProTour squad. “I’m happy for the confidence that Saronni and the sponsors of the team have in me,” Scarponi said. “I also thank the team and my teammates with whom I will ride until the end of the season that is still in progress. It is because of them that I had a chance to get in the spotlight and get the attention of Lampre-Farnese Vini.”
This signing is the first of several that will aim to fill in the spot left by Damiano Cunego. “We will not be stopping at Scarponi when it comes to raising the quality of the team for 2011. In the coming days we will be able to conclude other negotiations.” Saronni confirmed.