Michele Scarponi signs with Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo

Tuesday, Italian Michele Scarponi signed a one-year deal, for 2007, with Palmiro Masciarelli's Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo squad. While riding for Liberty Seguros-Würth, he had been named as part of Operación Puerto but had since been given the nod to ride by investigators.

"I am very content, I can't wait to start, it has been a lot of time for me spent away from the races," confirmed the 27 year-old rider from Jesi (Le Marche). "In this time I have been training a lot, and I have excellent condition."

Team GC-man, Stefano Garzelli, who finished fifth in the Trofeo Laigueglia on Tuesday, confirmed his satisfaction with Masciarelli's acquisition. "I am happy to have a teammate like Scarponi. He is a great signing for the team, he is an athlete in whom I have a lot of trust," he explained.

Team Manager Masciarelli indicated that he would assign his new signing to the side of Garzelli for the Giro, in which the team was recently given a wild card invitation. "I believe that Scarponi will be able to make important contributions at the Giro d'Italia, with him we will be even more competitive." Regarding Operación Puerto, he said to La Gazzetta dello Sport, "His position is the investigation is shelved. I have the documents from the Spanish investigators."