Simoni to Saunier Duval-Prodir

The Saunier Duval-Prodir team has announced that Gilberto Simoni will be joining its line-up in 2006. The Lampre man was left temporarily teamless when Giancarlo Ferretti's Sony-Ericsson deal dropped out, but there was still plenty of interest in signing the two-time Giro d'Italia winner.

"I am looking forward in joining this team," said Simoni. "I really like its positive atmosphere and great motivation." Simoni already knows a few members of the team quite well, like Pietro Algeri who was his Directeur Sportif when he won his first Giro in 2001: "Pietro is a very good person and I know Mauro Gianetti as well, when he was still riding. I look forward to work with Matxin too; he is a young and ambitious manager!"