Matteo Tosatto to ride for Saxo Bank-SunGuard in 2011
Italian rider Matteo Tosatto has joined Danish outfit Saxo Bank-SunGuard ahead of the 2011 season.
The deal, which was announced on Monday 22 November, will see the Italian join team manager Bjarne Riis from Quick Step, a team he has raced for since 2006.
"As so many others in the world of cycling, I have been fascinated by the way Bjarne runs his team and I'm really proud about becoming a member of the well-respected organisation," Tosatto commented upon the completion of the one-year contract.
"Coming to this well-organised team gives me new motivation and I can't wait to meet my new teammates and the staff around us."
After going professional in 1997, Tosatto won a stage at the 2001 Giro d'Italia.
His most recent triumph came when he won the 18th stage of the Tour de France during his debut season for Quick Step.
Supported Boonen at Quick Step
At his former team, Tosatto functioned mainly as a supporting rider, helping his Belgian teammate Tom Boonen to several victories, including his triumph at the 2009 Paris–Roubaix.
At Saxo Bank, Tosatto is likely to play a similar role in support of sprinters such as Juan Jose Haedo and Baden Cooke, while Riis also said that the 36-year-old could be called upon to captain the team in 2011.
"With Matteo, we will have a remarkably solid and loyal cyclist who will glide into the role as road captain in a natural way," Riis said. "Throughout his long career, he has been much appreciated and respected at both former teams and the Italian national
team. He will fit in well and we're all looking forward to welcoming him on board."
Saxo Bank's 2011 ambitions could suffer a damaging blow if the Spanish Cycling Federation's doping hearings against Alberto Contador, who joined Saxo Bank in August, result in a suspension.
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