Following the news of sponsorship extension and contract extensions for team leaders Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali, the Liquigas-Doimo team has also renewed its contract with Sylwester Szmyd for two years. Szmyd was an integral part of the Italian team's dominance in last month's Giro d'Italia where Basso claimed the overall crown.
Szmyd moved across to the Liquigas-Doimo team in 2009 from Italy's other top team, Lampre. While the Polish rider has mainly served as a trusted domestique, he has also shown the ability to achieve big results. Last year Szmyd took the Queen Stage at the Dauphiné Libéré, beating Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) atop the legendary Mont Ventoux. He finished second to Christophe Moreau on the Giant of Provence two years earlier.