La Gazzetta dello Sport is back as sponsor for another year. After what was probably the most succesfull year so far, winning both Pro Tour rankings, the company has agreed to slightly increase the budget to ensure our postion at the top for another year.
Resigning teamleader Cunego is a vital move for this, and luckly this worked. Sadly, new UCI rules did force us to fire two riders (Tiralongo and Gavazzi), as well as considering to sell a couple of others.
In the upcoming transfer season we hope to be able to regain a bit of the lost strength, and possibly earn enough money for some training. Our main objectives in the transfers will bo to hire a few Italian domestiques, as well as signing Dutch talent Moreno Hofland, since our manager is a big fan of him.
Due to financial problems, the team management has come to the conclusion some riders will have to leave the team, in order to keep the payroll down. After many years of loyal service, this sadly means the end of Danilo di Luca, aka. 'The Killer' with our team.
A top 25 postions in the Individual Pro Tour rankings will surely help him to find a new employer, and we certainly hope he will find a team that meets his capabilities.
Di Luca is not alone though. Michael Ford will have to be leaving the team as well. He has proven himself very alueable in Time Trials and Team Time Trials, and he has been of great publicity value for setting early best times in various stage races, but the management has decided we will need riders who can actually be of use in ProTour road races as well.
With a nice palmares, Ford should have no problem either to find a new team.
And then that's still not it, because rumour go that Joost Posthuma is up for deals as well. No final decision has been made on his person, but any offers are very carefully considers, and these has already been good contact with several teams about a possible transfer. With 3 victories, a top 100 in the Pro Tour last year and victory in the Dutch National Time Trial Championship, we would certainly like to keep Posthuma on the team, but if we don't have the means for that, we have only one option left...
You can now offer for Di Luca (78 Hill, 77 Mou), Posthuma (79 TT, 74 Hill + nat. TT champ) and Ford (81 TT).
Furthermore, with the transfer season open, La Gazzetta would like to notify other managers again that we are interested in riders with the minimum wage of 50 000, with Italians having another plus.
