Footon-Servetto 2010 - New Riders Signed
The 'men in blue' sign 7 young talents to bolster the squad forthe coming season.

New signings for 2010:
The ProTour Footon/Servetto  squad, has made official today it's first signing for the next season. The confirmed riders are: David Vitoria coming over from Rock Racing; former Barloworld riders Michele Merlo and Marco Corti. David Gutiérrez and David Gutiérrez Palacios (Camargo elite2), Rafael Valls (Burgos Monumental) and Miguel Ángel Rubiano (Centri della Calzatura - Partizan), all of them join the squad with a vision and purpose to develop talented young riders on the international pro calendar is made clear with this first announcement.

25 year old David Vitoria  of Switzerland had a great season in his return to the pro field, with two stage wins in the Ruta de México. His  career has come full circle after a brilliant 2008 amateur season when the Phonak team was dismantled after his pro debut in 2007.

Italy’s Michelle Merlo, aged 22, is one of the best rising sprinters in the peloton as he showed in his first pro season, earning a stage victory in the Tour of Britain. His fellow countryman and Barloworld teammate last year, Marco Corti (23) also made his pro debut last season.

Spaniards David Gutiérrez (26) and David Gutiérrez Palacios (22) - the younger brother of renowned pro cyclist José Iván Gutiérrez Palacios. Both Gutiérrez' have been among the best amateur riders in recent years; the older veteran has notched up 11 wins in the recently finished season, while the younger, won the Spanish U23 Road Championships in his most important triumph of the year.

Rafael Valls, aged 22, is yet another from the top hopefuls in the Spanish peloton, with a fourth place in the prestigious Circuito Montañés and a 10th place in the Tour de l’Avenir, riding against  all the best young riders in the world.

 Last, but not least, 25-year-old Colombian Miguel Ángel Rubiano has done a fantastic season in the Italian semi-classics, with a 3rd place at the Trofeo Melinda, a 4th at the Giro di Reggio Calabria and three 5th place finishes in the tough races of  Coppa Sabatini, the G.P. Carnago and the Coppa Agostoni against the best pro teams.

These seven new comers join some of the riders in the 2009 roster confirming their continuation in the new project, with Eros Capecchi (23), Arkaitz Durán (23), Alberto Benítez (29) and Ermanno Capelli (25) being the ones with an official agreement. That will not be the case with Beñat Intxausti, who has came to an agreement with the team managers to take the option in his contract not to renew in case of a desired change of squad.

Footen/Servetto Staff:
General Manager: Alvaro Crespi
Directeur Sportif: Joxean Fernández. Matxin
Team Managers: Sabino Angoitia, Stefano Zanini
Mechanics: David Fernández, José Luis Rodriguez Gil, Roberto San Emeterio, Roberto Astori, Eneko Iturriaga, Marcello Stanga
Trainers: Pierino Barcella, Paco Lluna, Txema González, Stefano Santerini, Maurizio Rivola, Fernando Gómez, Adolfo Crespo, Cristian Fernández
Doctors: Massimo Besnati, Jose Ibarguren, Giovanni Ruffini
Press Officer: David García
Administration: Santiago Mijares, Ana Badía, Rafael Quijano, Iñigo Landa
Team Website

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