Luperini to Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini

Fabiana Luperini has signed with the Nobili Rubinetterie Menikini Cogeas team for the 2007 season. Luperini, a four-time winner of the women's Giro d'Italia, and three-time winner of the women's Tour de France (La Grande Boucle Féminine) will be the new team leader of Nobili after the departure of Edita Pucinskaite (Equipe Nürnberger). Team manager Walter Zini said, "Our objective will be the Giro 'd Italia: we succeeded in winning this year with Pucinskaite, and I do not see why we should not try with Fabiana Luperini."

The team has also picked up Australian Rochelle Gilmore, who will be handy for stages wins and bunch sprints. Gilmore has two Giro d'Italia Donne stage wins, and several medals on the track from past world championships. Danish rider Dorthe Lohse Rasmussen who, at 35 years of age, is another new signing, and will bring a considerable amount of experience to the team. Rasmussen was fourth at this year's world championships in Salzburg. Nobili Rubinetterie reinforces their abilities against the clock with Spanish time trial champion Eneritz Iturriaga. Italian Carmela Maria Massaro, 19, rounds out the squad.