Alessandro Petacchi will still be active in the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team in 2015 so he will reach 20 active seasons in the peloton.

At 40, the Italian is in good shape and looking forward to the Giro d'Italia, as protector of the pink jersey Rigoberto Uran. 

"I spoke with Patrick Lefevere before the time trial. I told him that I wanted to go one more year, I have seen a good condition, and I would like to continue in this squad, and he has told me so," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It is not signed but I think Patrick's word counts as a signature," he said.

His victories include 22 stage wins in the Giro d' Italia- nine in 2004 - 20 in the Tour of Spain and six in the Tour de France, as well as victories in classics like Milan -San Remo (2005), Paris -Tours (2007) and Schelderpijs (2009) and in other races like Paris -Nice, Tirreno -Adriatico, Romandie , Switzerland. Also won Points Jerseys all three Grand Tours in 2004 in the Giro, the Tour in 2005 and completed the circle in the Vuelta 2010 . The Italian sprinter turned 40 in January.

His teams were: Scrigno -Blue Storm (1996) , Scrigno - Gaerne (1997-1998 ) , Navigare - Gaerne (1999 ) , Fassa Bortolo (2000-2005 ) , Team Milram (2006-2008 ) , LPR Brakes ( 20083 - 2009) , Lampre (2010-2013 ) , Lampre- Farnese Vini (2010), Lampre -ISD (2011-2012 ) , Lampre -Merida (2013) and Omega Pharma -Quick Step ( 2013-2014 ).