By Gregor Brown
Italian Fabrizio Guidi has retired from cycling after 13 years as a professional. The 35 year-old from Pontedera, who turned professional with Navigare and this year raced with Barloworld, looks forward to working as a directeur sportif and studying law according to tuttobiciweb.com.
Guidi won over 40 races since he turned professional in 1995, while racing with teams Navigare (1995), Scrigno (1996-1997), Polti (1998 1999), Française Des Jeux (2000), Mercury-Viatel (2001), Team Coast/Bianchi (2002-2003), Team CSC (2004), Phonak (2005-2006) and Barloworld (2007). Amongst his tally include two stages at the Giro d'Italia, where he also won the intergiro competition three times and the points competition one time, and three stage wins in the 1998 Vuelta a España, including the overall points competition that same year.
"I would like to stay in the environment," he noted. "In these days I am in advanced negotiations to join the side of a famous directeur of a professional team." Guidi spent many years working with Bruno and Roberto Reverberi, and there is speculation that the negotiations are with their team, Ceramica Panaria-Navigare.
"I think I will accept the offer. My main objective is halfway met, the rest will be getting a degree in law." He has already started his studies, and has obtained optimum results. "I am attending the law faculty at the Guglielmo Marconi University in Rome. It is a programme of three years plus two; after three years of study I will have the opportunity of a degree in juridical science, and after five years the law degree will be complete."
Guidi is looking forward to passing the holidays at home with his wife Caroline and children, seven year-old Elia and four year-old Estelle. "December 20 will start the Christmas break, and my wife and children will join me for a break in Tuscany." Elia is following in his dad's footsteps; "Thanks to the interest of Simone Gobbini, my ex-team-mate during our amateur years, I have signed Elia up with Team Pedale Mancianese. ... The results are encouraging; two wins have already come."
Guidi's last win came in 2006 with a stage win in the ProTour-ranked Tour of Poland. He bettered Daniele Bennati for the sprint win in Torun after 225.5 kilometres.
