Vacansoleil-DCM and Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela to continue with historic company in 2013
Bianchi is to “focus on the WorldTour” after ending its association with Professional Continental team Colombia-Coldeportes after one year. The South American team, which will be known simply as Team Colombia, is to switch to Wilier-Triestina in 2013 - with the Veneto company’s long relationship with Lampre-ISD coming to a close - but Lombardy-based Bianchi will still be left suppling bikes to two major teams.
“Our strategy is to focus on the WorldTour calendar and compete at the highest level, in particular in the Spring Classics campaign, the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a España,” said Bianchi CEO Bob Ippolito. “Our extended collaboration with Vacansoleil-DCM and Italian team Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela will enable us to secure a complete international racing plan in all Continents.
“We are proud to have contributed to the start of the new Colombian team and we offer [general manager] Claudio Corti our best wishes as he continues to build his young team.”
With WorldTour team Vacansoleil-DCM - to whom the Celeste company will provide its flagship Oltre XR frames - Bianchi is guaranteed a presence in all of the major races in the calendar; Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela - who will be provided with Sempre Pro frames - is a level lower, with Professional Continental status, but has a guaranteed place at the Giro d’Italia thanks to its victory in the season-long Coppa Italia competition.
Although the wildcards have yet to be announced for 2013, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela is likely to be invited to some, or all of, the other races run by RCS Sport, including Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo. Additionally, the team has included current Italian champion Franco Pellizotti since his return from suspension in May.
2012 saw several high profile victories from Bianchi sponsored teams, including three stages of the Giro d’Italia through Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela’s Miguel Angel Rubiano and Roberto Ferrari, and through the prestigious solo victory of Vacansoleil’s Thomas De Gendt on the Passo dello Stelvio (pictured) which put the Belgian onto the final race podium.