Liquigas, 2005-2012: Otto Anni di Sport e Passione

"Liquigas, 2005-2012: Otto Anni di Sport e Passione" (Eight Years of Sport and Passion) is a new Italian language book by Pier Augusto Stagi that covers the eight years of the team's history. The team won two Giro d'Italia and one Vuelta a Espana, and hundreds of stage victories.

The book will be available soon at www.libreriadellosport.it and www.teamliquigascannondale.com

Beginning next year the team will be known as the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team.


Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com.

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Liquigas-Cannondale Becomes Cannondale Pro Cycling Team

Back in August it we wrote that Brixia Sport had acquired Liquigas Sport (read here). The next step in the team's future was announced today in the following press release.


Bethel, Conn. – September 20, 2012 – Cannondale, a premium brand of Dorel Industries, announced today that it is significantly increasing its investment with Brixia Sport to become the title sponsor of their pro cycling team, newly named "Cannondale Pro Cycling Team." The relationship is effective January 1, 2013. For 2013 and beyond, Cannondale and the team will focus on the development of a young stable of incredible talent including Peter Sagan, the winner of the Green Jersey at the 2012 Tour de France, Moreno Moser and Elia Viviani. These riders will, in turn, be guided by committed veterans like Ivan Basso.

"Cannondale is excited to partner with Brixia Sport to be the title sponsor of the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team. Innovation leadership is part of our DNA. For the past six years, it has been a thrill to watch the team push their limits on our bikes as we push the boundaries on what those bikes can do," said Bob Burbank, General Manager, Cannondale. "With the title sponsorship, our dealers and consumers can expect to see us really challenge the status quo and develop programs and opportunities that demonstrate our continued commitment to professional cycling in new and exciting ways that will be undeniably Cannondale."

Cannondale began its relationship with the team in 2007 as the technical sponsor for the Liquigas Pro Cycling Team. In January of 2010, Cannondale became a co-sponsor of the Liquigas-Cannondale Team. Since 2007, the team has won: three Grand Tours including the Giro d'Italia in 2007 and 2010 and the Vuelta a Espana in 2010; two Tour de France jerseys, including the 2009 Polka Dot and the 2012 Green Jersey; and, countless prestigious individual races.

Throughout the relationship, the team has ridden the race-proven line of Cannondale road bikes including the SuperSix, Slice, Slice RS, Synapse and the recently named "Best Bike in the World" SuperSix EVO Ultimate.

"Fans of the sport and Cannondale can expect to see one of the world's best race teams riding on the most exciting bikes available," said Burbank. "It's truly a partnership in innovation and excellence."

"We are incredibly pleased with Cannondale's decision to continue and increase its partnership with the team," said Paolo Zani, President, Brixia Sport. "We share the same goal of furthering a sports project that has produced exciting results in recent years. We are convinced that the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team will be one of the most competitive teams in international cycling. Combining the Italian tradition of cycling with the naturally innovative spirit of a brand like Cannondale will initiate the genesis of an international team that will always be a main contender wherever it competes."

"The qualities with which the Cannondale Pro Cycling Team sports partnership begins will provide great motivation for the entire organisation at Brixia Sport," said Team Manager Roberto Amadio. "The experience and expertise we have gained since 2005 form a solid foundation on which to build the future of the new team. We have ambitious goals and the right structure to ensure we achieve them. We'll have a sound squad with a focus on young riders and a strongly international influence. We will repay Cannondale's trust in us with the utmost commitment and professionalism. The team is thrilled to know that they continue to ride on the best bike in the world.


Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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New Owner of Liquigas-Cannondale: BRIXIA SPORT

Announcement from Brixia Sport:

The new leader of Liquigas-Cannondale: BRIXIA SPORT
 
-The company has acquired Liquigas Sport guaranteeing the continuation of the sports project.

-Company president Paolo Zani is joined by managing directors Roberto Amadio and Paolo Papetti.

-19 reconfirmations starting Basso, Sagan, Moser, Viviani and Caruso.

-Three new signings at the moment: De Marchi, Wurf and Krizek

Brixia Sport SpA is the new sports company that has taken over the Liquigas-Cannondale Pro Cycling Team project, the professional cycling team led by team manager Roberto Amadio. With Paolo Zani as president and Amadio and Paolo Papetti as managing directors, Brixia Sport has recently acquired Liquigas Sport SpA which has managed the green and blue team since 2004. The wealth of experience from eight years of racing will be not be wasted though as Brixia Sport plans to reinvest it in the team’s future. During next weeks the company will announce also the sponsors and the technical partners that will support this new adventure.

«This sports project was created with passion and produces excellent results so it couldn’t end here, » explained President Paolo Zani. «Therefore I decided to take over the company to ensure this invaluable experience is put to good use. Liquigas-Cannondale has achieved a highly commendable level of sporting performance and professionalism. It has accomplished so many successes and we want just as many in the future. We shall never forget the importance of how these have been achieved: we shall always be guided by the principles of sports ethics and transparency. We will strive to strengthen the organisation by making it more international and comprehensive, bringing young riders to the fore and setting ourselves ambitious goals. From a sports perspective, confirming riders such as Basso, Sagan, Moser, Viviani and Caruso is the first major step forward. »

The genesis of Brixia Sport has solid foundations and focuses on renewal. «We want to continue being exponents of modern, professional cycling with a first-rate organisation, » said team manager Amadio. «We need to use what we have created up to now as our new starting point. We plan to pursue a project with maximum attention to detail in every aspect of competitive riding that ensures athletes have the right frameworks, facilities and professionals at their disposal. We’ll concentrate on building a well-rounded team with top and up-and-coming riders. The most intriguing challenge will be to renew our organisation while retaining our character, particularly when it comes to selecting athletes: we are renowned for the way we bring on talented young riders, and this will be our main concern. We would like to thank those who, like Liquigas and Cannondale, have believed in and developed this project with us, and to those who give us the opportunity to expand it in the future. »

In view of 2013 season Brixia Sport has renewed the contracts of 19 riders from the current team for the 2013 season. Ivan Basso, Peter Sagan, Moreno Moser, Elia Viviani and Damiano Caruso will be reference riders of the team and will be joined by Stefano Agostini, Maciej Bodnar, Federico Canuti, Mauro Da Dalto, Ted King, Kristijan Koren, Paolo Longo Borghini, Alan Marangoni, Maciej Paterski, Daniele Ratto, Fabio Sabatini, Juraj Sagan, Cristiano Salerno e Josè Cayetano Sarmiento.

Three, at the moment, the new signings: Italian Alessandro De Marchi (from Androni-Venezuela), Austrian Matthias Krizek (neo-professional rider from Marchiol-Emisfero-Site) and Australian Cameron Wurf (from Champion System) that already wear the Liquigas-Cannondale jersey in 2011. In addition to completing the squad, Brixia Sport’s plans for the immediate future also include focusing on maintain the team’s UCI WorldTour licence that team had already till 2014.



Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, racing, etc. are always welcome.

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Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,500 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.  

Video: "Liquigas-Cannondale, Our Story", Part I

Liquigas-Cannondale has launched a multi-part video project specially created to give fans and followers of the team an exclusive insight into life with the team. Italian language with English subtitles. Part I, just released:



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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Liquigas-Cannondale Presentation

The official presentation of the 2012 team took place today in Milan at the headquarters of Citroën Italia. Citroën the car French car manufacturer? Yes, the French car manufacturer is a new partner and will supply the team vehicles for 2012.



If you must know the the Citroëns being provided are ten Citroën C5 Tourer as race cars, two Citroën Jumpy Atlante for transporting the team, and two Citroën C-Crosser as official team cars. I digress...

This year marks the eighth season for Liquigas and which will will open in a few days in Australia at the Tour Down Under, January 17-22.

The team has three leaders: Ivan Basso, Vncenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan. Basso and Nibali will point to stage and overall wins in the grand tours while Sagan, from Slovakia, will point to victories in the one day classics but as part of his development he will start in the Tour de France (he won three stage victories in the Vuelta last year).

For most of the races the riders will use the Cannondale SuperSix EVO. For time trials the team will use the new Slice Aero RS. For the pavé classics, where comfort plays a key role, the team will use the Synapse Hi-MOD with SAVE PLUS, the newly redesigned micro suspension system.



Follow on Twitter: ITALIANCYCJOURN

Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Training Camps for Liquigas and Lampre

The first training camp for Liquigas-Cannondale at Passo San Pellegrino in the Dolomites finished today, it began on November 28th. Interestingly, while their base was at the Hotel Mozoni at 1900 meters they slept at the Chalet Cima Uomo at 2100 meters in order to benefit from the altitude.

The team relaxed with saunas, played pool, hiked, some mountain biking, stretching and fitness drills, training program development, etc.

Another important aspect of the training camp was to reinforce team spirit and also to welcome the new members. Among these is Moreno Moser, nephew of Franceso Moser. Nice to see this name again at this level.

Each rider will now return home to pursue their personalized training schedules until the next training camp which will be in the warmer climate of Sardinia. The riders will stay at Geo Village in Olbia from 12 to 22 December.

Lampre-ISD will begin their first training camp tomorrow in Darfo Boario Terme where they will be staying at the Hotel San Martino until the 7th. The focus will be checking all the riders' equipment, the set-up of their new bikes, and planning the 2012 racing calendars (such as Michele Scarponi expressing an interest in skipping the Giro d'Italia to focus on the Tour de France). The team will also be participating in some social events.


If you are interested in how one of the Lampre-ISD mechanics (Ronny Baron) prepares a Wilier from start to finish see the following (note: long videos, two parts, and in Italian but you'll get the visual step by step process):
Part I
Part II

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,200 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.

Liquigas-Cannondale Announces Tour de France Team

"We’ve got an intense month ahead but our competitive spirit will overcome any difficulties." This is how Liquigas-Cannondale team manager Roberto Amadio today launched the challenge for the Tour de France, which starts on Saturday, 2nd July.

"I expect the team to be tough, gutsy and determined to compete as a main contender in what is one of the most important races in the world," Amadio continued. "This is the role that Liquigas-Cannondale can and must play. Everyone knows the goals: do the race justice day after day and aim for the best possible result in the general classification. With a captain like Ivan Basso we know we’ve got a real shot at the podium and the yellow jersey. Contador and Andy Schleck have proved they’re the strongest but Ivan has just as much experience and class. He hasn’t been able to perform to his full potential until now though due to physical problems and injuries. But I’m convinced Ivan, and his teammates, will treat us to a world-class performance during the Tour."

The job of captain and team leader goes to Ivan Basso, while the team’s two directeurs sportifs, Stefano Zanatta and Dario Mariuzzo, have selected eight teammates who can provide invaluable support in every phase of the race and also chase down a stage win if and when the opportunity arises: Italians Daniel Oss, Alessandro Vanotti, Paolo Longo Borghini and Fabio Sabatini; the Polish trio of Sylwester Szmyd, Maciej Bodnar and Maciej Paterski; and the young Slovenian rider Kristijan Koren.

"You need athletic strength and an incredible spirit of sacrifice to race in the Tour de France," said Zanatta. "That’s why we have chosen a group of riders in optimum physical condition who are ready to give everything they’ve got every day to support Basso and to fight for victory. We’ve got a group of youngsters like Oss, Koren, Bodnar, Paterski and Sabatini who are itching to make their mark and also guarantee us a sound level of experience. Vanotti and Longo Borghini are seasoned racers who know how to move within the group and manage even the trickiest situations. Szmyd offers added value and will work with Basso on the tougher climbs: when we’re tackling the decisive stages and the group splits up, his help will be crucial for Ivan."

Photo: Ivan Basso, team leader

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Stories for the Italian Cycling Journal about rides, granfondos, touring, having a good time cycling in Italy, Italian cycling history, etc. are always welcome. Contact me at veronaman@gmail.com. There are more than 2,000 stories in this blog. The search feature to the right works best for finding subjects in the blog. There is also a translate button at the bottom so you can translate each page.