Ivanov signs with Selle Italia

By Vitalii Abramov

Moldavian rider Ruslan Ivanov, who rode for Amore and Vita-McDonalds in 2007, has signed the contract with Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Selle Italia for 2008, the Republic of Moldova's cycling federation has announced. In following year Ivanov will join in Selle Italia to the ProTour Europe 2007 winner Alessandro Bertolini, and also Gilberto Simoni which according to many sources of the information also is going to pass in Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Selle Italia.

"Yes, really, I have signed the professional contract with team Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni - Selle Italia," Ivanov told SPORT-Courier. "We have negotiated long enough and at last they have crowned success. I am very glad with this circumstance, because in my present team (Amore and Vita-McDonalds) business is not as well as it would be desirable. This season in general has left me unsuccessful enough. But now, I hope, the black strip in my life has come to the end and in following year to I will be able to make that which I could not at present."

Ivanov, who in 2006 became the first rider in the world to sign a professional contract that included a DNA-test, hasn't enjoyed a successful 2007 season. But Ivanov, winner of Giro di Toscana 2000 and Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartoli 2001, hopes that his fortunes will change in 2008.

"It is assured that I can be useful to the new team as there I shall act side-by-side with friends Gilberto Simoni and Alessandro Bertolini," explained the 33 year-old. "Very much I hope, that after a long break I at last can take part in the Giro d'Italia."