Hondo to Italian pro conti team

By Susan Westemeyer

Danilo Hondo will ride for the Italian Professional Continental Team Diquigiovanni - Androni, the follow-up team to Selle Italia, next season, he announced on his website www.danilo-hondo.de Monday.

He chose the team based on "the very good sporting possibilities and freedoms, the personal relationships and of course a financially acceptable offer."

Hondo joins Gilberto Simoni, Gabriele Missaglia and Alessandro Bertolini on the new look team. Diquigiovanni - Androni's main goals for the 2008 season centre around gaining selection for the Giro d'Italia, with that in mind they have outlined an early season preparation that includes Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo.

"Both sides, the team management and me, have already expressed interest in a longer contract," the German sprinter noted. "So it is up to me to make my comeback on a high athletic level and to be active in the fight against doping."

Hondo tested positive for Carphedon during the Tour of Murcia in March 2005. After being sentenced to a two-year ban from the sport, a Swiss court ruled that he was allowed to continue riding while he appealed the initial ruling. He rode part of the 2006 season for Team Lamonta. In 2007 he signed with Team Tinkoff, but in January his suspension was reinstated, which prohibited him from riding the 2007 season.