The MCipollini-Giordana team has announced details of its almost-finished 2013 roster, and describes the line up as presenting “continuity and novelty.” The giallo-fluo team -currently called MCipollini-Giambenini - sponsored by the bike company of retired Italian super-sprinter Mario Cipollini, enters its third season in the women’s elite peloton with most of its key riders staying on.
"In recent years we have taken great satisfaction, we have grown a lot and it is obvious to now aim even higher,” said team president Alessia Piccolo. “We are working hard to grow and make the whole women’s cycling sector grow. There are a lot of interesting athletes, we have decided to have some of them with us for the next season. They will join the ‘historical’ leaders of our team.
“I'm satisfied that we are putting together a good group,” she added. “The team is largely defined, but not yet closed".
The core team of 2009 World champion Tatiana Guderzo, two-time Italian champion Monia Baccaille, the Polish winner of the Giro della Toscana Malgorzata Jasinska, Marta Tagliaferro and Valentina Carretta remain, although eight of the 2012 team is moving on. The biggest name to depart is 2007 World champion Marta Bastianelli, who - along with Elena Cecchini and Susanna Zorzi - heads for the entirely restructured Faren-Let’s Go Finland team.
22-year-old Valentina Scandolara joins the team, along with two juniors, who step up to the elite level in 2013. Michela Pavin achieved several good results in 2012, while Anna Maria Stricker took the silver and bronze medals in the European and World championships respectively.
The team also looks internationally, with former Russian champion Tatiana Antoshina comes in after a year at Rabobank, while experienced Polis rider Sylwia Kapusta will join compatriot Jasinska.
These new signings take the team’s number up to ten, with some places potentially still vacant. Once again the team will be led by experienced directeur sportif Luisiana Pegoraro.
The giallo-fluo team will continue to be linked to the men’s Professional Continental Vini Fantini-Selle Italia team (currently Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), and will - as the name suggests - ride RB1K bikes from MCipollini once more.
Mcipollini-Giordana roster 2013 (so far)
Tatiana Antoshina, Monia Baccaille, Valentina Carretta, Tatiana Guderzo, Malgorzata Jasinska, Sylwia Kapusta, Michela Pavin, Valentina Scandolara, Marta Tagliaferro and Anna Maria Stricker