Paolo Bailetti used to race for team LPR Brakes (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Italy's Paolo Bailetti became the newest member of the Fuji-Servetto team after the squad decided to increase its roster to compensate for the absence of several injured riders.
Jesus Del Nero, Hector Gonzalez and Beñat Intxausti are recovering from their respective fractures and Andrea Tonti is suffering from muscular problems while Davide Viganò is recovering from a virus. David Cañada is facing more serious troubles – he is recovering from skin cancer.
The team's Daniele Nardello has decided to retire after next Wednesday's Gent-Wevelgem, and William Walker's career is on hold as he has been forced to take a break of an indefinite period while he recuperates from cardiac problems detected during the recent Tour Down Under.
The 28-year-old Bailetti had no team after the team that had signed him, Team H20, was disbanded before this season got underway. He was the amateur Italian champion in 2002 and started his pro career in 2005 with Team Androni Giocattoli, before going to Team LPR to race for the last two seasons.
His efforts to work for his teammates during last year's Giro d'Italia did not go unnoticed. He'll begin racing with the Fuji-Servetto team at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday where he'll be joined by the following teammates: Ermanno Capelli, Hilton Clarke, Ivan Dominguez, Ángel Gómez Gómez, Nardello, Boris Shpilevsky and Josep Jufré.
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