Women’s team going more Italian in 2012; Business as usual despite demise of brother-team Geox-TMC
Despite the expected demise of its brother-team Geox-TMC, women’s UCI team Diadora-Pasta Zara is continuing to sign riders for 2012. Following the announcement last week that World champion Giorgia Bronzini was returning to the team where she has spent most of her career, the Veneto based team has added three further names. After having a multinational line up in 2011, with American’s the single biggest national group, the team is becoming more Italian once more with the acquisition of Rossella Callovi, Alessandra D’Ettorre and Giada Borgato.
The biggest of the three signings is 2009 junior World champion Callovi, who joins from MCipollini-Giambenini. The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the big names for the future of Italian women’s cycling; while victory escaped her in 2011, second place in the GP Ciudad de Valladolid World Cup race behind World number one Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) shows that she is beginning to fulfil her promise.
“Rossella Callovi is one of the biggest talents that the Italian women’s cycling has produced in recent years,” said team manager Maurizio Fabretto, “able immediately to fight alongside the World’s top athletes. This year was disappointing when she dropped out of the Giro Donne, and she was not good for the rest of the season.
“In stage races and tough days, she is there,” he added.
Having spent the season in a team alongside three former World champions [Tatiana Guderzo, Nicole Cooke and Marta Bastianelli] Callovi is looking forward to joining the team that will include the current rainbow jersey.
"In the end of the Diadora-Pasta Zara Manhattan has convinced me,” she said, “and I am proud of the confidence that I have been given. It's an important, well-structured team.
“In 2012 I expect to grow with serenity and determination,” Callovi continued, and learn much more, both from my teammates, who have more experience than me, and from the team leaders. Firstly, I hope to have more luck than this year, and especially to solve the health problems that have made me finish the season early.
“Regarding my objectives,” she added, “I would like to find my limits in stage races, and maybe get some important results in shorter races that suit me."
D’Ettorre is one of the most experienced riders in the Italian women’s peloton and will be an important part to Diadora-Pasta Zara’s new World champion’s plans.
"She will be the last girl in the train, one that will lead out Giorgia Bronzini in the sprints,” Fabretto explained.
The team has alson announced that 2011 riders Giulia Donato, Francesca Stefani, Alona Andruk, Inga Cilvinaite and Amber Pierce will be staying with the team through 2012. The destination of the rest of the team, including two-time US champion Mara Abbott is not yet known.