Management

FOOTON-SERVETTO (FOT) - ESP

Team Managers Mauro Gianetti and Joxean Fernandez Matxin have found two new sponsors for their Spanish-based team and yet again are ready to help some promising young riders show what they can do at UCI ProTour level.

New main sponsor Footon is a specialist shoe orthotics producer, while Italian furniture accessory company Servetto continues its support and is joined by Spanish steel and valve producer Ampo.

In 2009, Spain’s Juan Jose Cobo and Davide de la Fuente were the team’s most successful riders. Cobo won stages at the Vuelta a España and the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, while Davide de la Fuente won the GP Miguel Indurain and took several placings at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and the Vuelta a España. Both have moved to other teams in 2010 but talented Italian stage racer Eros Capecchi is still with the team and will be the rider to watch in 2010.

Footon-Servetto has made some interesting new signings for 2010, including Italian sprinter Michele Merlo, compatriots Giampaolo Cheula and Marco Corti, Austria’s Matthias Brandle and Markus Eibegger, Spain’s David Vitoria and Portugal’s Road National Champion Manuel Cardoso.

New professionals include Noe Gianetti, Mauro Gianetti’s son, Britain’s Thomas Faiers, talented Italian Fabio Felline and Spanish Under 23 Road National Championships winner Pedro Merino.

“Some of the riders are not well known but let’s see what happens in the future. They are going to have the unique opportunity to be in the best races in the world alongside the best riders, Matxin said.”

“Mauro Gianetti and I prefer to return to our roots and go for young riders. If some of them manage to step forwards then it brings huge satisfaction.”