The rider who was responsible for the majority of the team’s successes last year, Danilo Di Luca, left the team after a turbulent second half of the year and went to Team LPR. So manager Amadio lost the winner of the Giro and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He replaced one big Italian name with another, Daniele Bennati.


Following the fast Italian, also lead-out Corioni came over to the limegreen-jerseys. Other signings will always look pale, compared to Bennati, but Franzoi is also a useful addition to the team. Besides them, Liquigas also contracted a few youngsters who will try to follow Nibali and Kreuziger and have their breakthrough. Agnoli and Bodnar came over from the espoirs, Santaromita came from Quickstep and Alberto Curtolo, already promising in 2006, returns after a year of absence.


Opposed to the new arrivals, 8 riders left the team, including Di Luca. His faithful companion, Alessandro Spezialetti, followed him to Team LPR. Other important transfers were those of Gasparotto and Paolini, although the last one was subject of some unclear discussion. In the mean time, the fast Italian was considered to be the successor of Bettini has signed at Acqua & Sapone. Seniors Bäckstedt and Calcagni also left the team, they went to Slipstream and Barloworld respectively.


Overlooking the bunch, Liquigas has a balanced team, with a captain for every terrain. Pozzato aims for the classics, although he can’t just rely on his status as talent forever. He needs results. Bennati has passed that stage after his two Tour stage victories last year. It will be important for him to keep his place amongst the sprint elite this year.


For stage races the team doesn’t seem so strong yet. With Kreuziger and Cataldo Amado has a lot of potential in his team, but they can’t be expected to finish in a top ten of a grand tour yet. Just Nibali and Pellizotti will be able to finish in the top ten of the Giro, and a good Nibali might even reach a top five position.


In
Valerio Agnoli (Aurum Hotels), Daniele Bennati, Enrico Franzoi, Claudio Corioni (Lampre-Fondital), Maciej Bodnar (neo), Ivan Santaromita (Quickstep), Alberto Curtolo (ex-pro)


Out
Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream), Patrick Calcagni, Enrico Gasparotto (Barloworld), Eros Capecchi (Saunier Duval), Danilo di Luca, Alessandro Spezialetti (Team LPR), Francesco Failli, Luca Paolini (Acqua & Sapone)