Team Sky Adds Cioni and Vigano to 2010 Team Roster
By Thomas A. Valentinsen
Nov 19, 2009 - 5:40:00 AM
Team Sky today announced the signing of two additional pro riders. Italian professionals Dario Cioni and Davide Vigano have both signed with Team Sky. They take the Team Sky roster to 24 riders, all of whom will gather at the team's Manchester base for the first time next week.
Announcing the new riders Team Manager of Team Sky Dave Brailsford said "Vigano is a real talent on the brink of an international breakthrough. Team Sky is all about developing and bringing out the best in these kinds of talents and he will benefit hugely from the way we work.
Brailsford added, "Taking Dario Cioni on board means we'll have the experience of another hard-working stage race specialist who'll be able to lead the way in the big three-week races. He knows the Grand Tours well and has the physique to pull for the team in all kinds of terrain. We have a great blend of experience, developing talent and proven winners in this team and can now focus on preparing for our debut at the 2010 Tour Down Under in January."
The two new Team Sky recruits are:
Dario Cioni - The experienced 34-year old was born in Britain but has spent much of his life in Tuscany. He will enter his 12th pro season with Team Sky having been with Italian squad LSD, Silence-Lotto and Liquigas. A former national time trial champion he has top 5 finishes in the Tour of Italy, the Tour of Romandie and the Tour of Slovenia on his CV.
Davide Vigano - Considered one of the bigger talents in Italy, having constantly produced results since he turned pro with Quickstep-Innergetic in 2005. The 25-year old sprinter has top 10 stage results in the Tour of Spain, the Tour of Italy and the Tour of Germany and this season finished 6th in Germany's biggest one day race, the Vattenfall Cyclassics.
Team Sky riders already signed include Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Pete Kennaugh, Chris Froome, Ian Stannard, Russell Downing, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Thomas Lövkvist, Kurt Asle Arvesen, Simon Gerrans, Juan Antonio Flecha, Kjell Carlstrom, John Lee Augustyn, Greg Henderson, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Morris Possoni, Michael Barry, Serge Pauwels, Chris Sutton, Sylvain Calzati, Nicolas Portal, and Mathew Hayman.
Team Sky will compete from the start of 2010 pro road cycling season, beginning with the Tour Down Under in January, and hopes to gain an invitation to the 2010 Tour de France.
