Riccò signs with Vacansoleil
Contro𒊎versial Italian hopes to debut with Dutch team at S🐽unday’s GP Plouay
The Vacansoleil team has announced the signing of Riccardo Riccò. The controversial Italian, who tested positive for CERA at the 2008 Tour de France, will ride for the Dutch-based team for two years and will make his debut in the blue and yellow Vacansoleil colours at the GP Plouay next Sunda༒y if his licence is processed in time by the UCI.
Riccò told Gazzetta dello Sport that he had signed for Quick Step last Friday but the deal fell through and Vacansoleil moved quickly to sign Riccò.
"We share the ambition and way of racing wi🐻th him. If you look at the way he won the Tour of Austria, with blood all over his face after a crash but still made it to the finish, you know he is a special rider.”
“In 2010 we must loཧok at Riccò as a rider who paid his debt and look to the future. In the last few years several riders were able to contribute to clean ♉cycling after being suspended, Riccardo has to be in that group. There are not many riders who can finish in the top 3 of a major Tour and Riccò is one of them.”
“Our main sponsor and team believe that after being punished, Riccò, like everyone else, deserves a second chance. Riccò agreed, like all riders, on immediate termination of it𓄧s contract and the payment of an astronomical amount in case of misbehaviour. Examples of misbehaviour can be found in actions which bring the team in discredit and/or the failure to comply with internal regulatio✱ns. Let's await his UCI registration and see if he is able to make his debut at GP Plouay were we will immediately see his high level."
Riccò underwent a medical🔴 with the team on Monday and prom꧂ised to ride aggressively and honestly.
"I’m happy to be back and I believe everyone deserv♔es a second chance. I know I ain't there yet. I aim to give the fans great events by racing aggressive and honest. 𒀰By choosing the Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team I chose a team where they have a zero-tolerance policy and where a clean sport is one of the major objectives. A team which sets an example will be good for me in my second life as a cyclist.”
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“During the meetings with Vacansoleil, they were strict in their conditions but fair and I am confident in our co-operation. I will not falsify their trust and image a🍃nd will pay them baꦫck with great results."
Stephen is one of the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.