The Italian Team Liquigas-Cannondale, distinctly recognized by their bright green and blue colors, is one of the veteran organizations among the eighteen UCI registered Pro Tour cycling teams. Despite changing title sponsors throughout the last fourteen years, the organization has remained largely intact and has continued to produce consistently successful teams year after year. In a magical 2010 season, the team won both the Giro d’Italia (Ivan Basso) and Vuelta Espana (Vincenzo Nibali) and electrified USA’s Tour of California with Peter Sagan’s spectacular two stage victories, Points and Young Rider classification!
Team Liquigas-Cannondale is fi’zi:k’s longest running pro cycling partnership at eight years strong. Sponsored by Cannondale, one of fi’zi:k’s very first original equipment business partners, this team-sponsor relationship is traces back to the very beginnings the fi’zi:k brand.
With the majority of the team members living in the ‘backyard’ of fi’zi:k’s Pozzoleone headquarters, they have long played a role in product development and testing. It is accurate to say that every fi’zi:k product that has been released during the last eight years - and perhaps even those that have been shelved – have been prototype tested by a member of this pro team. They are that much a part of the process. It was two-time Giro d’Italia winner and Tour de France runner-up, Ivan Basso, in fact, who collaborated closely with fi’zi:k during the development process of the Antares and then later, the Antares 00.
With Chameleons (Antares 00) Basso and Nibali capturing two major Grand Tours in one year, the final step to be conquered is the top one on the Champs-Elysées. There’s reserved space on the walls of both the team warehouse and in the fi’zi:k factory; space reserved for the coveted yellow jersey. The befitting next chapter in the fi’zi:k, Cannondale and Team Liguigas-Cannondale story would be the glory of accomplishing this goal together.
Peter Sagan is back and is well on his way to bettering his 2010 record with an early-season Giro di Sardegna victory that included 3-stage wins and the Points jersey. Sagan will have support in one-day races in the form of Italian National Track Champion Daniel Oss, as well as USA fan-favorite Ted “IamTedKing” King. And of course, both Basso and Nibali will be looking to add to their palmares and to cycling’s history in no small manner.
Look for the big fi’zi:k logo on the rear shorts panel when the riders are up the road in the breaks and igniting the action with attacks on the monumental climbs of the Grand Tours of Italy, France and Spain. While a large contingent of Team Liquigas-Cannondale rider’s are Chameleons (Antares), Bulls (Aliante) and Snakes (Arione) are also a huge part of this team’s success!
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