Lampre-ISD Archives

Lampre-ISD has suspended Michele Scarponi, last year�s Giro d�Italia winner, for visiting Michele Ferrari the discredited doctor implicated in the sordid Lance Armstrong affair. Although Scarponi�s association with Ferrari pre-dates his time with Lampre the Italian pro outfit felt it a �violation of the internal code of the team�� Scarponi had been somewhat forced into admitting his past involvement with the doctor after Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport published a report on a Padua-based investigation into Ferrari, who the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) accuse of helping to mastermind the Armstrong doping ring. For his part Ferrari continues to declare his innocence.

Scarponi has previously served an 18-month suspension after being implicated in the doping network of Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes in 2006 which was uncovered by Spanish police in their �Operation Mountain Pass� investigation. Ironically the 2011 Giro d�Italia crown was awarded to second-place Scarponi after Alberto Contador was stripped of the title for doping.

With confirmation of their UCI WorldTour licence, Italian team Lampre-ISD have bolstered their 2013 squad with the signing of Argentinian Maximiliano Richeze. The 29-year-old, a pro since 2006 when he took a second-place stage win at the Giro d�Italia, has enjoyed a successful 2012 season, claiming 13 victories (and a spin at the London Olympics) including an overall win at the Tour de Hokkaido. �Team manager Giuseppe Saronni said, �Richeze is very fast and his best quality is the ability in sizing the opportunities during the sprints� Petacchi (Alessandro) and (Roberto) Ferrari are top sprinters, but I think that also Maximiliano will be able to give us satisfactions.�

For his part, the Argentinian commented, �What an honour for me to have the chance to be part of Team Lampre! It�s very exciting to become a World Tour cyclist, especially in the team of Mr Saronni, that is always skillful in appreciating the value of the riders. I�ll do my best to pay off the trust the team placed in me�.

The signing is not without its controversy though; prior to the 2008 Giro Richeze tested positive for steroids and, despite initially being cleared by the Argentine Cycling Federation, was banned for two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.