England to Amore e Vita

By Susan Westemeyer

Richard England will ride for Team Amore e Vita – McDonald's in 2009. The 27-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, rode for the US-based Bissell Pro Cycling Team this year and won the fifth stage of the Tour de Georgia. "I'm very happy and excited to have him in our team," Amore e Vita manager Cristian Fanini told Cyclingnews. "I think he's a really good rider – very strong and ready to make a step forward in his career and try to find his dimension here in Europe.

"I noticed him at the Tour of Georgia. He is the kind of rider I want for my team: aggressive, and brave," Fanini continued. The Australian will not only ride in European races for the first time, but also in races in the USA, with the Italian Continental team hoping for an invitation to the Tour of Georgia.