Lampre signs Spezialetti, Bernucci

Italian team Lampre-NGC signed Alessandro Spezialetti and Lorenzo Bernucci today, according to Tuttobiciweb. The two Italians join sprinter Alessandro Petacchi in making the jump from LPR Brakes.

Lampre's star rider, Damiano Cunego, helped convince his team to offer a two-year contract to Spezialetti. "I already worked with him during my years at Saeco," said Spezialetti, 34. "Damiano brought up the proposal during the races, my agents did the rest."

Spezialetti helped Cunego to a surprise Giro d'Italia win in 2004. This year he worked for LPR's Danilo Di Luca, who finished second overall, but later failed a doping test.

Bernucci, 30, worked as a lead-out man for Petacchi this year and in 2005 at Fassa Bortolo. Lampre signed offered him a one-year contract. He will help Lampre's star signee, Petacchi, and aim for the Northern Classics next season.

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