Ballan renews with Lampre

Alessandro Ballan will continue to wear the blue-fuschia colors of Lampre - Fondital for two more years, thereby confirming previous news that such a signing was likely. Tuesday evening, he signed a contract for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Tuesday morning, Ballan's manager Mauro Battaglini and Team Lampre's Giuseppe Saronni met and reached an agreement.

"My aim was the permanence in this team and I got it," said Ballan "I'm very happy and I thank the team and the sponsors that still wanted me: I think I received from Lampre-Fondital great trust and I gave something good too. I will try hard to obtain other important victories".

So far this season, Ballan has won the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Three Days of De Panne and the Vattenfall Cyclassics.