Daniele Bennati among four riders confirmed for Luxembourg team
On Wednesday 18 October, Brian Nygaard announced the names of four more riders for the new Luxembourg cycling project, including sprint specialist Daniele Bennati. The team has
been built around Andy and Frank Schleck by managers Nygaard and Kim Anderson, all making the switch from Team Saxo Bank. Last week, Nygaard announced the full management team, but the riders’ signing have mostly been kept tightly under wraps, with few so
far known besides the Schleck brothers.
“Bennati is such a classy rider and we are very happy to have him,” said Nygaard. “He is really passionate about our project and I’m sure he’ll be a significant addition to our line-up. He has won many
impressive victories, but I actually don’t think we have seen his best yet. I see him flourishing in the right environment and I believe we can provide that for him.”
Bennati will be joined by Bruno Pires and fellow Italians Davide Viganò and Giacomo Nizzolo. The 30-year-old rode with team Liquigas and won stages in all three Grand Tours and the points classification
in the 2007 Vuelta a España and the 2008 Giro d’Italia.
“The team will be shooting to do well in the Classics and the Grand Tours,” said Bennati. “We have a strong group of riders who are the right age to start securing some major victories, and I want to be
right in there providing the best support to the team that I possibly can.”
Viganò will be moving from Team Sky to work in Bennati’s lead-out train with neopro Nizzolo, while Pires, former Portugese national road champion, will work for the team in the mountains.
“I don’t have any defined personal ambitions, but will put all my efforts towards helping my colleagues to make this project a success,” said Pires. “I am definitely going to work to promote a great image
for this newly organized professional cycling team.”
The team has also yet to announce their title sponsor.
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