BAHRAIN MERIDA Pro Cycling Team has announced another rider, Franco Pellizotti, an experienced Italian that already assisted and been riding with Vincenzo Nibali.

Franco Pellizotti, age 38, is known as a climbing specialist and he has won many stages at grand tours and other races in his long career. He was third overall in the 2009 Giro and he won the polka dot jersey in Paris as the best climber of Tour de France in 2009 after being named the Most Combative Rider on Stages 9 and 17. Pellizotti joined his first Pro Tour Team in 2001 and he is an extremely experienced rider. In 2010 he was a team-mate of Vincenzo Nibali in the Liquigas team. Together they achieved many excellent results and Pellizotti helped him in many Grand Tours and other races. The management of the BAHRAIN MERIDA Pro Cycling Team is convinced that they will achieve even greater results riding together again.

Pellizotti also served a doping suspension due to a biological passport violation in 2010. Since his comeback, he has been captain in the Androni team.

After signing the agreement with BAHRAIN MERIDA Pro Cycling Team Pellizotti said:

“I am really happy for more than one reason. I will race for another season and above all, with BAHRAIN MERIDA pro Cycling Team I return to the WorldTour, which means riding with top cyclists in the world, like Nibali.

"What makes me even more excited is the idea to be part of a new team, to share the enthusiasm of a new beginning with my co-riders and to feel everyone’s desire to achieve something good together. It is the same feeling I had in 2005 with Liquigas, where I also met Vincenzo, Gasparotto and many members of the current staff of BAHRAIN MERIDA like Miholjević, Chiesa, Štangelj, Slongo and others. I remember that we were a tight-knit group and it’s nice to work with them again.

"Regarding Nibali - we spent 5 years together in Liquigas and I saw him growing up. It’s amazing how now I can support him toward his goals, among which is Giro d’Italia, where he will be aiming for his third victory. I will be one of his men for the climbs and my aim is to help him as much as possible. I’m joining a strong team here, that I know very well, since I have been in the peloton for a very long time”.