Scarponi signs new Diquigiovanni contract

Michele Scarponi, winner of two Giro d'Italia stages last month,  has re-signed with Gianni Savio's Diquigiovanni team for the 2010 season.

"We re-launched Michele Scarponi's career with the best results and we are convinced that in 2010 not only will he repeat but that he'll go even better," said team manager Savio.

Scarponi, from Italy's Le Marche region, has had his best season to date with two Giro d'Italia stages - Mayrhofen and Benevento - and a stage and overall win at Tirreno-Adriatico in March. The Mayrhofen stage win came after 193 kilometres in an escape group, from which he rode solo for the last 10 kilometres.

He finished 32nd overall after three weeks of the Giro d'Italia, over one hour behind winner Denis Menchov (Rabobank). This spring, Scarponi beat Stefano Garzelli and Andreas Klöden to win the seven-day Tirreno-Adriatico.

Diquigiovanni won its third stage at the Giro d'Italia with Leonardo Bertagnolli, who left team Amica Chips-Knauf to join Savio prior to the race start.

Savio has a good mix of talent, from Francesco Ginanni to Gilberto Simoni and his riders have won 22 times so far this season.

Ginanni, José Serpa, Jackson Rodriguez have already signed for 2010. Contract talks are ongoing for other riders, like Simoni and sprinter Mattia Gavazzi.