Italian duo Dario Cioni and Davide Vigano have signed to the British-based Team Sky ProTour squad for 2010.
Cioni, 34, joins the team from ISD. His best
result in 11 years as a professional was in the 2004 Giro d'Italia, where he placed fourth overall. Cioni was born in Reading, Berkshire, but has spent most of his life in Tuscany.
Sprint specialist Vigano, 25, turned professional with the QuickStep team in 2005, and joins Sky from Fuji-Servetto. He scored two top five places at this year's Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
"Vigano is a real talent on the brink of an international breakthrough," said Team Sky principal David Brailsford.
"Team Sky is all about developing and bringing out the best in these kinds of talents and he will benefit hugely from the way we work."
"Taking Dario Cioni on board means we'll have the experience of another hard-working stage-race specialist who'll be able to lead the way in the big three-week races," Brailsford continued.
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"He knows the Grand Tours well and has the physique to pull for the team in all kinds of terrain. We have a great blend of experience, developing talent and proven winners in this team and can now focus on preparing for our debut at the Tour Down Under in January."
The latest announcement brings the total number of riders on Sky's roster to 24.
Team Sky will make its debut at the Tour Down Under in Australia in January 2010.
Dario Cioni (Italy)
Age - 34
Previous team - ISD-Neri
Best result - 4th, 2004 Giro d'Italia; 2004 Italian time trial champion
Davide Vigano (Italy)
Age - 25
Previous team - Fuji-Servetto
Best result - 4th, stage 7, 2009 Giro d'Italia; 4th, stage 6, 2009 Vuelta a Espana
World calendar ranking 2009: 113
Team Sky so far...
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor)
age 34 from Saxo Bank
John-Lee Augustyn (RSA)
age 23 from Barloworld
Michael Barry (Can)
age 33 from Team Columbia
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor)
age 22 from Team Columbia World ranking 2009: 6
Sylvain Calzati (Fra)
age 30 from Agritubel Europe Tour ranking 2009: 214
Kjell Carlstrom (Fin)
age 33 from Liquigas
Dario Cioni (Ita)
age 34 from ISD-Neri
Steve Cummings (GB)
age 28 from Barloworld Europe Tour ranking 2009: 236
Russell Downing (GB)
age 31 from CandiTV Europe Tour ranking 2009: 50
Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa)
age 32 from Rabobank World ranking 2009: 58
Chris Froome (GB)
age 24 from Barloworld Europe Tour ranking 2009: 533
Simon Gerrans (Aus)
age 29 from Cervélo World ranking 2009: 25
Mat Hayman (Aus)
age 31 from Rabobank World ranking 2009: 95
Greg Henderson (NZ)
age 33 from Team Columbia World ranking 2009: 109
Peter Kennaugh (GB)
age 20 from British Cycling academy Europe Tour ranking 2009: 188
Thomas Lövkvist (Swe)
age 25 from Team Columbia World ranking 2009: 55
Lars-Petter Nordhaug (Nor)
age 25 from Joker-Bianchi Europe Tour ranking 2009: 140
Serge Pauwels (Bel)
age 26 from Cervélo World ranking 2009: 178
Nicolas Portal (Fra)
age 30 from Caisse d'Epargne
Morris Possoni (Ita)
age 25 from Team Columbia
Ian Stannard (GB)
age 22 from ISD-Neri Europe Tour ranking 2009: 803
Chris Sutton (Aus)
age 25 from Garmin-Slipstream World ranking 2009: 207
Geraint Thomas (GB)
age 23 from Barloworld Europe Tour ranking 2009: 427
Davide Vigano (Ita)
age 25 from Fuji-Servetto World Calendar ranking 2009: 113
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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