Italian sprint specialist Alessandro Petacchi has signed for Lampre for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, his new team said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old, who missed the 2007 and 2008 Tours de France after testing positive for banned substance salbutamol, leaves the LPR Brakes team.

He will replace world champion Alessandro Ballan, who is poised to join American Team BMC next year.