Basso for the Giro; Nibali for the Tour; Sagan for everything else
Liquigas-Cannondale was presented in the Milan, Italy, headquarters of newly signed car sponsor Citroën, with one stated goal: continued success. The Italian team, which is beginning its eighth season in the peloton was also keen to stress the importance of continuity, with just six riders departing from the 2011 squad and five arriving.
As the top Italian team in the World [Lampre-ISD finished one place above Liquigas-Cannondale in the 2011 WorldTour, but the green and blue team achieved far better results in all races – ed] Liquigas-Cannondale is looking for even more success in the coming season, and feels that it has what it takes to do well in any race.
“We’ve been pursuing increasingly more ambitious goals since 2005.” said Paolo Dal Lago, president of Liquigas Spa and Liquigas Sport.” We’ve achieved important and prestigious results that have earned the team a respectable place in cycling: now the next step is to prove ourselves and keep improving with the professionalism and style that people have always associated with our colours.
“I’m convinced that 2012 has many moments of great satisfaction in store for us,” he added, “and these will ensure that the names of Liquigas and Cannondale will continue to enjoy success around the world.”
The new names in the green and blue line up for 2012 consist of Stefano Agostini and Moreno Moser (the nephew of Italian legend Francesco), who both rode as stagiaires in 2011, Federico Canuti from Colnago-CSF Inox, Cayetano Jose Sarmiento from Acqua & Sapone, and Daniele Ratto, who was rescued from the collapsing Geox-TMC team.
The biggest names to leave the team are Jacopo Guarnieri and Simone Ponzi, who have both gone to Astana.
“We know we’ve got everything in place to aim high and feel very ambitious as we face all our challenges,” said team manager Roberto Amadio. “We’ve got outstanding riders and the right men to support them over any terrain: all the ingredients are there for a new season at the top.”
Liquigas-Cannondale will once again be built around the Grand Tour ambitions of two-time Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso, and 2010 Vuelta a España winner Vincenzo Nibali; as well as the all round abilities of Slovakian champion Peter Sagan in the Classics.
In a change from 2011, Basso will be bidding for a third Giro victory, while Nibali will be gunning for the Tour.
The 2012 jersey is similar to that of 2011, having a mostly white front, with one green side and sleeve, and one blue. The Italian team will once more be one of the easiest to spot in the peloton from helicopter shots though, since the back of the jersey will now be almost entirely coloured in the distinctive acid-green.
The team will – obviously – ride bikes from co-sponsor Cannondale, with the American company’s SuperSix EVO as the usual bike of choice. For rougher races, like the cobbled Spring Classics, riders will be able to switch to the more comfortable Synapse – in its new Hi-Mod version – while the newly developed Slice RS aero will be used in time trials.
The team will use components from American company SRAM for a second year, with wheels by French company Mavic.