Management

LAMPRE-MERIDA (LAM) - ITA

The Italian Lampre company has been an important sponsor in professional cycling since 1991 and has joined forces with bike company Merida for 2013 as the team begins to rejuvenate the squad. Lampre won just seven races in 2012 but Saronni is determined to turn things around in 2013.

Experienced team leaders Damiano Cunego, Michele Scarponi and Alessandro Petacchi will again wear the blue and pink colours, with the arrival of Merida, adding a touch of green to the standout jersey.

Cunego will again target the hilly Classics and at least one Grand Tour, and naturally has his sights focused on the hilly World Championships course in Florence. His endurance, climbing ability and fast finish makes him a natural favourite.

Scarponi is back from a three-month ban and is looking to make up for a disappointing 2012 season. He finished fourth in the Giro d'Italia but has proved he can do much better by winning the 2011 corsa rosa.

Petacchi is now 39 and has lost some speed and power but he has worked hard all winter with new coach and former pro rider Michele Bartoli. Both are confident Petacchi can take on the new generation of sprinters in 2013.

The team's gradual « revolution » began by signing Filippo Pozzato – arguably the best Italian classics rider of the moment, sprinter Roberto Ferrari and some of the best young Italian neo-pro riders.

Other riders to watch for at Lampre-Merida include time trialist Adriano Malori, the ex-Junior's UCI Road World Champion Diego Ulissi and neo pros Mattia Cattaneo and Luca Wackermann.

« The changes are a new challenge for us. We've got to work hard but we're enthusiastic and motivated, » team manager Giuseppe Saronni explained. « We're trying to give the riders the best possible support so they can focus on racing and winning. »