Team LPR signs Dario Pieri

Probable début next week

Team LPR has managed to engage the services of 29 year-old Italian Dario Pieri, who currently rides for Lampre-Cafitta. Pieri is expected to begin racing with the team as early as next week, at the Due Giorni Marchigiana.

In his ninth year as a professional, Pieri has not had a result since 2003, considered to be his finest season after finishing second at Paris-Roubaix while riding for Saeco. He also won the E3-Harelbeke semi-classic in Belgium in 2002, finished second at the 2000 Ronde Van Vlaanderen and won stages at the Tour of Langkawi and the Three Days of De Panne in 1998.

"We are assured of an athlete of great talent," said LPR team manager Omar Piscina. "Despite having lean results the last seasons, we have been able to find there is still extraordinary motivation. His victories and formidable placings speak for themselves, and we now set ourselves the task of returning [Pieri] to his 2003 level with maximum conviction."