A revamped LPR is off and running after its official presentation Saturday in Piacenza, Italy. The Professional Continental is now guided by Fabio Bordonali with the off-season signings past Giro d'Italia Champions Danilo Di Luca and Paolo Savoldelli.
LPR Brakes' focus is on the Giro – reinforced by its invitation to race. However, the new recruits of Bordonali, the ex-leader of Team Tenax, should see the team viable through the entire 2008 season. "It was not easy through such a difficult winter to put together a squad at this level," commented Team Manager Bordonali. "Now, here in front of the passionate public, we are ready to start this beautiful adventure with the right ingredients."
Bordonali was thrilled with the previous day's news of the team's participation in the 91st Giro given in the ranks are last year's winner, Di Luca, and 2005 and 2002 winner Savoldelli.
"It will not be easy to repeat it," 32 year-old Di Luca commented on his Giro win. The Italian from Abruzzo faced a difficult winter when he was forced to serve a three-month suspension for his involvement in the Oil for Drugs affair and find a new team. The link with Bordonali is ideal to push the company's name forward in the public eye and help Di Luca fight back.
"My objectives continue to be the Giro and Liège [Bastogne-Liège], a one-day race that I prefer," said the 2007 Liège winner. "Our aim is to give our best, make ourselves seen and, above all, work as a team."
"LPR has made a bold entrance with strong riders of quality and good characteristics," confirmed 34 year-old Savoldelli, who signed with LPR after riding a year with Astana.
"Everyone is expecting a lot from us and we will make a good impression." Savoldelli noted his aspirations are not only in the Giro, "I hope to be a protagonist also in the second part of the season, like at the Olympic or Worlds time trial; even if the Tour [de France] and Vuelta [a España] come first – they both depend on invitations."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The team will start its second team camp in Salto di Fondi (Lazio) – ending February 17 – and make its racing debut on February 9 in the GP Etruschi.
LPR Brakes for 2008: Paolo Bailetti, Gabriele Bosisio, Luca Celli, Riccardo Chiarini, Claudio Cucinotta, Danilo Di Luca, Giairo Ermeti, Raffaele Ferrara, Roberto Ferrari, Jure Golcer, Sergio Laganà, Sergio Marinangeli, Alessandro Maserati, Matteo Montaguti, Ruslan Pidgornyy, Daniele Pietropolli, Walter Proch, Cristiano Salerno, Paolo Savoldelli and Alessandro Spezialetti.
See Cyclingnews' team database for full team details.
