LongReach Communications to sponsor Selle Italia-Diquigiovanni

By Jean-François Quénet in Riese Pio X

The big absence in the 2007 Giro d'Italia is Gianni Savio's Selle Italia-Diquigiovanni team, who has an interesting record in the Italian three-week race but was left behind by RCS Sport this year. In the past two editions they have collected three stage wins, nine in top-five stage placings, third overall and the Maglia Verde with José Rujano in 2005.

"We hope to be back at the Giro d'Italia next year," said an always optimistic Savio who had considered bidding for the Tour de France – as Barloworld successfully did – but decided not to because his team wasn't exactly built for that event.

The cycling promoter from Piedmont who is used to winning on all five continents almost every year – particularly in South America at the Vuelta Tachira and Tour of Colombia and at Le Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia – has reached an agreement with a new sponsor who will appear on their jersey for the next three years: LongReach Communications (LRC).

Founded in 2005 by David Falt, who was born near Rio de Janeiro but adopted by a Swedish family and then went on to graduate from Stockholm University, the company works on developing growing economies and emerging markets in Africa, Middle East, South America and Eastern Europe through its wireless network. "Our cooperation includes a charity foundation for promoting cycling to the attention of the kids in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela," announced Savio who is aiming for participation in the 2008 Giro d'Italia.