Cervélo TestTeam has signed two more riders for the 2010 season which brings in a mix of youth and experience to the squad. 20-year-old Italian Davide Appollonio and 31-year-old Spaniard Xavier Tondo Volpini are the two new recruits for the team.
Appollonio is one of the best new riders from Italy with a total of 3 wins this season including the GP Pretola, the Firenze-Empoli and the Coppa Lanciotto Ballarini. Since August, Appollonio has ridden as a stagiaire for Cervélo TestTeam. He provided strong support for the team at the Tour of Ireland, finishing 22nd overall, and at the Tour of Britain, where he finished 5th in the third stage. His work for the team has the youngster on board until 2011.
“I signed with Cervélo TestTeam because it is the best team in the sport for a young rider to join to develop himself. My goal for 2010 is to always give my best and help obtain results for the team,” said Appollonio.
“Davide is a very talented rider and extremely young for a professional. During his stagiaire time with us in Britain and Ireland, he showed his strengths, especially in shorter climbs and sprints,” explained Sports Director Jens Zemke. “We will work with him and help him develop for the future by sending him to the smaller races. However he will also get the opportunity to ride with our big captains. He is a good team player and we will integrate him into a team that is ready to win races.”
Xavier Tondo Volpini comes to Cervélo TestTeam from the Spanish Andalucia-Cajasur squad. In 2009 he won two races – the prologue in the Ruta del Sol and the 5th stage of the Tour de San Luiss (ARG). He is an experienced rider who showed his strength as a climber in the Volta a Catalunya earning a 2nd place ranking in the mountains. Tondo Volpini has signed a one-year contract with the team.
“To be part of Cervélo TestTeam is like a dream come true for me. I like the Cervélo bikes, the innovation of the equipment and the contact with the sponsors. All these aspects are important for a professional rider,” explained Tondo, who has been a professional since 2003. “My main task for 2010 is to support Carlos Sastre in the mountains during the stage races.”
“We’re happy to have Xavier on our team for next season and are convinced that he will fit very well with Cervélo TestTeam,” said Sports Director Alex Sans Vega. “On the sports side, even at 31 years old, we know there is still room for growth and improvement after the great season he had in 2009, with six top-10 general classification rankings in one-week races, including the ProTour race Volta a Catalunya. Xavier is an enthusiastic rider with a great interest in bike technology and well be good at providing feedback for product development, which is also a very important aspect of our team.”