Despite being one of the dominant figures on the Italian cycling scene, Mauro Finetto has been unable to find a new professional team. Instead, he has signed a contract with the small Unieuro Wilier Trevigiani team where he started his career.

"I could accept other solutions but I wanted to take this choice for many reasons," he said. "In Unieuro Wilier Trevigiani I'll be back in the family where I really learned the cyclist job, working methodically and with professionalism and sacrifice. I'll be back with those who have taught all this to me, with Mirko Rossato (Unione Ciclisti Trevigiani advisor) who for me like two other important figures, Armando Zambaldo and Lucio Cavalleri, was first a director with great charisma and now is a true friend."

"I leave behind those who have treated me very badly. I trusted my former team [Southeast], I was wrong and I do not want to add other words on this issue. For a season I will have to set aside some objectives, but now I look to the future with new goals to achieve. One is to make this Continental project grow. I hope that with my contribution this team will reach the top category, this is one more reason for me to marry this cause. The road for me in recent years has not been easy at all, but there is still time to do something and those who know me know how stubborn I am. I want to apologize and to thank all the friends and fans who have made me feel their affection in this period during which I preferred to isolate myself, to avoid having to explain things. I do not know how to explain. Thanks to Unieuro Wilier Trevigiani, president Barzi for the warm welcome and I hope it will be a good season for everyone."

Finetto will be making his debut in Sunday's Trofeo Laigueglia.

"Mauro is a very valuable engagement for our team and is a rider to whom we are very attached and for his own good we were hoping he had found a place in a Professional or World Tour team," said team manager Marco Milesi. "With his engagement and that of Malaguti our roster increased and, compared to the initial plans, this leads to some changes to our calendar. We have decided to increase the number of races to be able to give space to all our athletes, from the youngest to the most experienced. We will race more national and international competitions with the Under-23 than we had initially planned, in addition to the races in the top category, where a rider like Mauro will obviously be our point of reference."