One year spent as a reliable domestique, one season as a rider delivering effective support. Thanks to these references, Mario Jorge Faria Da Costa, better know as Mario Costa, will race in LAMPRE-MERIDA colours in 2016 too, adding another season to 2015 when he raced for 67 days, not only supporting his brother Rui, but giving his contribution to the victories of the team captains in Tour of Turkey and Tour of Hainan and in stages in Paris-Nice and in the Tour of Japan.

Born in 1985 and pro since 2008, Mario Costa said: "I'm so proud I can continue my professional racing in LAMPRE-MERIDA, where there's an impressive group of people and where everything is on a high professional level.  The 2015 season was very important for my career, I'd like to do even better for the team, for the sponsors and for my team mates in the next season."

Team manager Brent Copeland confirmed that: "The role of Mario Costa has been important for the whole season, because he gave his effective help to the captains in all the situation and in every kind of race, both in World Tour races and in extra European ones. That's why he's very appreciated by everyone in the team."