After three difficult years at Astana, Francesco Gavazzi will step down to pro continental level, having signed a contract with Neri Sottoli. The Italian wants to return to his winning ways, preferably in the Giro d'Italia.

Francesco Gavazzi was on the list of riders looking for a contract. Hence, Tuttobiciweb contacted him for their series of articles about Italians without a team but the interview ended up being different than expected.

"I'm more relaxed," he told the Italian website. "Last Monday, I signed with Angelo Citracca's and Luca Scinto's Neri Sottoli team and I can now look to the new year with more confidence."

During his career, Gavazzi has won nine races, four of them in 2011 while he rode for Lampre-ISD. Now he goes into his ninth professional season with Neri Sottoli after three years at Astana where he only won a single race, a stage of the 2012 Tour of Beijing.

"Those were three beautiful years but they were also very difficult and complicated for me," he says. "I am a special rider who needs to be close to the team. I need a compliment, an encouragement, a kind of verbal care for my morale. I am not displeased with Astana but it is a great team. You cannot focus on a rider like Gavazzi and I will not hide that I had problems."

Now he is ready to  turn the page.

"Thank God, yes. The timing is difficult. It is no coincidence that Tuttobiciweb has a series about riders searching for a contract. There are many riders in this situation and it is nothing short of alarming. Every year it's getting worse, and I hope to be wrong when I think that it will only get worse and worse in the future." 

Gavazzi only signed a one-year contract.

"This was what I wanted in our discussion. This will be a year to get to know the team and we will take stock of the situation at the end of the season, hoping that things go well. If I am happy and if Neri Sottoli is pleased with me, we will sign a longer contract."

Gavazzi doesn't see the move as a step backwards.

"Absolutely not! Why should I? Of course I am no longer in cycling's first division but may it'sa  good thing. I haven't won for two years so it is right to take a step back. I think I made the right decision to leave to recover mentally. I need to feel important."

Having just returned from a vacation with his new teammate Simone Ponzi, Gavazzi is looking forward to riding under his new management.

"I have only spoken with him [Luca Scinto] a couple of times over the phone but I know Luca since my amateur days when Angelo [Citracca] was the leader of Finauto. He is a great motivator who is able to speak to people's hearts. He knows how to deal with the riders and I am sure that is what I am missing."

Gavazzi's main goal is to return to his winning ways.

"I hope so because I have been chasing a win for two years and I miss it terriblye. In these twp years I have had more than 15 places of honour. I would wise that only a few seconds or thirds had been a victory.

"[My dream] is to do the Giro d'Italia again. I haven't been there for five years and I really hope the Neri Sottoli will be invited. If they are, my big goal will be to win at least one stage."