Along with the change of its principle name sponsor, the Bardiani-CSF Inox team has switched its bike supplier for 2013, signing a three-year deal with the Cipollini brand. The Italian Professional Continental team had been known as Colnago-CSF Inox since 2010, and had been riding bikes made by the Cambiago, Italy, company since 2005.
“The entry of Cipollini in the pool of sponsors is one of the milestones on which we have started to build our mid-term future,” explained team manager Bruno Reverberi. “For a team that focuses exclusively on the development of the best italian cycling talents, we couldn’t find a better partner in a company that makes ‘Made in Italy’ one of its strengths.
“On the technical side, we are constantly receiving high-quality assistance and our athletes are expressing positive feedback about their bicycles,” he added.
The three-year deal means that Cipollini - the company fronted by flamboyant former sprinter Super-Mario ‘Re Leone’ Cipollini - adds a second ProConti team to its stable, with its sponsorship of Vini Fantini-Selle Italia - and sister team Cipollini-Giordana - continuing.
“Starting from 2013 the partnership with the Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox Pro Team is an essential step for future growth of our company,” said Federico Zecchetto, CEO of Diamant Srl, the parent company of Cipollini. “Because in this team we see entrepreneurship and love for cycling.
“We believe that only those who grew up into the traditional cycling values, can contribute to revive the fortunes of this fantastic sport,” he continued. “With this team these ideals are shared and is an honour for us to realise this synergy. The goal of the partnership is to promote and improve our bikes and at the same time be visible in the world class cycling events, starting with the Giro d’Italia, a symbol of italian cycling around the world.”
Reverberi’s team has been a permanent fixture in the Giro d’Italia since its inception in 1982 - only missing out only in 2009 after a number of doping positives rocked the team the previous year - and will be one of the big favourites to take one of the three remaining wildcard places this time.
[Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela has been assured one of the four places after its victory in the 2012 Coppa Italia classification, leaving three more - ed]
The team will use Cipollini’s range-topping RB1000 and RB800 frames, equipped with Campagnolo Super Recored EPS electronic components, Campagnolo wheels, Deda Elementi bars and stems, Prologo saddles, Vittoria tyres, CycleOps Powertaps, and Elite bottle cages.