Italian Champion Giovanni looks ahead to next season with optimism. Last week, he heard his Farnese-Neri team is guaranteed a spot in the Giro d'Italia next year.
"With the Giro guaranteed, the team and I are allowed to start the season a little less exaggerated, especially from a psychological standpoint," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "There will be no need to get a result at all costs."
Race Director Angelo Zomegnan announced on Friday that Farnese, who took over as sponsor of the ISD, has an official invitation to the Giro d'Italia, May 7 to 29. It is a big coup for Farnese, which races in the second division.
Visconti will debut at the Tour of Qatar, February 6 to 11. He will continue his gym work over the winter to strengthen his quadriceps and to prevent the knee problem that he had this season. His goal is to be ready to win stages at the Giro d'Italia, where he held the leader's jersey for eight days in 2008.
"I have yet to win [a stage], so I have to catch up," he said. "I believe it will be my year."
He will ignore the overall classification, saying it is not worth fighting for a spot in the top 20.
"I have the right qualities but it is not yet time. I'm 27 years old, but physically I am not matured: I am at least three years behind. We'll talk about it in the future."
This year, besides his second national title, Visconti won two stages and the overall at the Tour of Turkey in April, and in June, won a stage of the Tour of Luxembourg and finished second overall at the Tour of Slovenia.
Giro's old man
Visconti may have the help of Andrea Noè at the Giro d'Italia, who is fighting to race it one last time at the age of 41 years old. In 2007, Noè became the oldest pink jersey wearer.
"Noè has the right mentality, he creates a good team feeling and has experience," said Visconti. "He's a good teacher for the young riders. He's the team rider that always gives more of himself."
Noè joins the team from one year with Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce. He started racing professionally in 1993.