Dario Cioni will be a directeur sportif at Team Sky in 2014. It will be the fourth role he will have had at the team after being a rider (he was on their original roster in 2010 and retired at the end of 2011), business manger and a press officer.

No formal press release has been made but his profile on the team’s website has been updated to include his new position.

“I love being part of this team, especially given the huge progress we’ve made in the last four years both on and off the bike. It is nice to have been able to contribute to that in various different areas,” Cioni said, according to teamsky.com.

“I’m really excited to work as a Sports Director as well this year because it means I can combine the tactical experience I learned as a rider with the organisational skills needed to ensure everything runs smoothly off the bike as well.”

Cioni had already played a significant role in Sky's preparations for last year's Giro d'Italia, when he was charged with scouting the team time trial course in Ischia and he also accompanied coach Tim Kerrison in supervising Bradley Wiggins's reconnaissance in the Dolomites.