Andrea Guardini signs with Team Astana
Team Astana has today confirmed that it has signed Jakob Fuglsang and Andrea Guardini for the 2012 season.
Guardini was offered a two-year contract and the cyclist was more than happy to join his compatriots Enrico Gasparotto, Maxim Iglinsky in the new side.
The 23-year rode with the amateur side Team Lucchini Neri Comauto in 2008 and spent a period of two years with the side.
He also represented Team ISD-NERI for the whole 2010 season before becoming professional.
Andrea accepted a two-year offer from the professional continental side, Team Farnese Vini-Selle Italia in 2011 and he has proved his worth in the past two seasons.
Guardini bagged fives stages at the Tour of Langkawi in 2011 and improved his own record by winning six in the 2012 version of the race.
He also bagged stages at the Tour of Qatar, the Tour of Turkey and the Volta a Portugal during his first year with the Italian side.
Besides his six-stage wins at the Tour de Langkawi 2012, Andrea claimed three stages at the Tour of Qinghai Lake and one at the Giro d’Italia 2012.
His overall performance right through the start of 2012 season caught the eye of the UCI World Tour Teams Team Astana pounced on the opportunity to include him on their side.
"We have taken on Guardini because we want to compete on all fronts, and he is without doubt the sprinter we were missing,” said team manager Giuseppe Martinelli.
“He is young, but in two years as a professional with Farnese he has already picked up 21 wins".
"I am sure he will rise to new and more important achievements from next year onwards".
On the other hand, Jakob Fuglsang’s bitter term with Team RadioShack-Nissan will also come to an end by the end of this season.
The Dane will be seen in Team Astana colours for coming three-years as the news are confirmed today by the team itself.
"Our agreement with Fuglsang is a cornerstone of Pro Team Astana's strategy for 2013," Martinelli said.
"With him, Nibali and Brajkovic, we have got three excellent leaders for competing in next year's three Grand Tours”.
Team Astana is currently lining up for the third Grand Tour race of the season, the Vuelta a Espana 2012 under the leadership of Fredrik Kessiakoff.
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