Lampre-Caffita behind the Skoda wheel

Last year's supplier of official vehicles to the Tour de France will also be supplying vehicles to Italian ProTour team, Lampre-Caffita. Czech car manufacturer Skoda has given 10 vehicles for the squad to use during the 2005 season, with nine Octavia wagons and one top-of-the-line Superb hatchback.

Giuseppe Saronni, General Manager of the Lampre-Caffita team, said: "It is a sponsorship of great value, and we would like to thank Skoda for their dedication and also in believing in us as a ProTour team." Accompanying Saronni at the car company's Autogerma headquarters was the team's star rider, Damiano Cunego, who added: "The vehicle is fantastic, elegant with lots of space."

Three of the vehicles will also be equipped with four-wheel drive and an electronic clutch - which may come in handy when driving up the mountain passes in this year's Giro d'Italia.