PARIS: Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati has signed a two-year deal with the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project, where brothers Andy and Frank Schleck will carry hopes of winning the Tour de France yellow jersey.
Bennati has joined compatriots Davide Vigano and first-year pro Giacomo Nizzolo, as well as Portugese Bruno Pires in signing for the team. “Bennati is such a classy rider and we are very happy to have him,” general manager Brian Nygaard said.
“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.
Bennati began his pro career as part of Mario Cipollini’s lead-out train at Acqua Sapone, but since then has gone on to claim stage victories in the Tour of Spain and the Tour of Italy.
The 30-year-old is hoping to spread his wings, however, and aim for top finishes in a number of one-day classics, starting with Milan-SanRemo. Andy Schleck has finished runner-up in the Tour de France to Spain’s Alberto Contador the past two years, and will start as one of only a handful of favourites in 2011.
Contador is currently provisionally suspended and awaiting word on a possible sanction after testing positive for trace amounts of the banned weight loss/muscle building drug clenbuterol.
