Cioni signs for the British Team Sky, no word on Wiggins

by Steve Jones at 6:24 PM EST

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Dario Cioni will be riding for the British Team Sky in 2010.

The Italian rode for the Pro Continental team ISD-Neri in 2009, and will join his compatriot Morris Possoni on the new team.

Cioni, 34, will make 2010 his 11th season as a professional on the road. His biggest results include finishing fourth place overall in the 2004 Giro di Italia, and winning the Italian Time Trial Championship that same year.

The Italian's career as a professional cyclist began with Mapei as a mountain biker at the age of 19. He represented Italy at the World Championshis in the discipline and finished in tenth place.

His transition to the road happened with Patrick Lefevere's Mapei-Quick Step team in 2000, staying with the team for the next three years. He rode for Italian teams during most of his career, riding for Fassa Bortolo in 2003 and 2004, Liquigas in 2005 and 2006, Predictor/Silence-Lotto in 2007 and 2008, and ISD-Neri this past season.

Cioni brings with him to Sky solid time trialing skills, and the ability to ride the mountains in defense of a leaders jersey.

The British team is still rumored to be chasing after Bradley Wiggins' autograph for next season. Wiggins is currently under contract with Jonathan Vaughters' Garmin-Slipstream team throught next year. Team Sky's Senior Sports Director Scott Sunderland looks to be putting the pieces together for a Grand Tour team, but Sky still lacks a leader that can be in with a shot over a three week race.

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