With constant news of riders and staff apparently trying to escape the Astana team, finally there seems to be news of one rider who may be trying to get in. Giampaolo Caruso, a Sicilian climber who currently rides for the Ceramica Flaminia-Bossini Docce ProContinental team, just departing for holiday in Kenya, is apparently a target for the new-look Kazakhstan based team.
“I received an offer of a two-year contract,” Caruso told Italian website Tuttobiciweb. it. “But I have not decided anything. More, also because I have a contract until 2011 with Flaminia. I have to respect it because I have not forgetten all that this team has done for me. In fifteen days, however, the situation in Astana could be clearer. But everything is still to be decided. “
Caruso, winner of this year’s Brixia Tour, has been by far Ceramica Flaminia’s highest ranked rider of 2009, and the team is understandably reluctant to part with him but believes that he will remain loyal. Team press officer Livio Iacovella said: “Gianpaolo has a contract for two years with us and I believe that eventually he will stay with Flaminia Bossini. The situation in Astana is not yet fully clarified, but if in the end the racer indicates his intention to leave and Astana will agree to offer a fair compensation, then the contract could be nullified.”