Visconti welcomes Cipollini

Giovanni Visconti will welcome the presence of sprint great Mario Cipollini to Team ISD. The Italian, 25, will lead the newly formed Italian-Ukrainian team, which announced the addition of the former World Champion as a technical consultant last week.

"We had dinner together and I saw what he could offer to this new project. Mario has ideas to better many aspects of the team," said Giovanni to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Visconti ends a two-year contract with Team Quick Step to join ISD. Luca Scinto and Angelo Citracca will direct him and the rest of the team, which will have a unique centre based in Toscana.

"If the new team of Scinto was not born then maybe I would not have changed. I could not say no to them. I am happy with the idea of returning to the motivations and the life that I had as an amateur with teammates in San Baronto. Also, Cipollini will train with us."

Visconti held the leader's jersey in the Giro d'Italia this year for eight days and won a stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía and the GP de Fourmies. Next season, though, will be the first one that he will ride as a true captain.

"I need to have a certain responsibility. I know that I will be closely attended to at ISD."