The 2010 Footon-Servetto-Fuji team has announced that the Basque AMPO corporation will be backing the young squad led by Mauro Gianetti and Joxean Fernandez Matxin. Earlier this month VeloNation reported that the AMPO Murcia team, who was looking to sign former Tour de France King of the Mountains Michael Rasmussen, was in danger of collapsing due to lack of sponsorship.
While AMPO has decided not to carry on with its original team, it is good news that the company has decided to stay within the sport of cycling.
With the the new sponsorship from AMPO also comes Basque rider Aitor Pérez Arrieta, who will be racing his seventh year as professional next season. He has previously ridden for the Cafés Baqué, Extremadura-Spiuk, Caisse d’Epargne and Contentpolis teams. Arrieta, 32, will bring experience to the young Footon-Servetto-Fuji team. The team has an average age just over 24 years, with a roster that includes seven neo-pros for the 2010 season.
Footon-Servetto-Fuji team for 2010:
AUT: Matthias Brändle and Markus Eibegger ( ELK-Haus),
AUS: Johnnie Walker (elite2 Trasmiera-Fuji),
DEN: Martin Pedersen (Capinordic),
ESP: Alberto Benítez and Arkaitz Durán (Fuji-Servetto), David Gutiérrez Gutiérrez and David Gutiérrez Palacios (elite2 Camargo), Vidal Celis (Barbot), Iban Mayoz (Xacobeo Galicia), Pedro Merino (trainee Fuji-Servetto), Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Contentpolis), Enrique Mata and Rafael Valls (Burgos Monumental),
GBR: Thomas Patrick Faiers (elite2 Camargo).
ITA: Eros Capecchi and Ermanno Capelli (Fuji-Servetto), Giampaolo Cheula, Michele Merlo and Marco Corti (Barloworld), Fabio Felline (elite2 Bergamasca),
POR: Manuel Cardoso (Liberty),
SUI: David Vitoria (Rock Racing) and Noe Gianetti (elite V.C. Mendrisio).