Former Italian champion Ivan Santaromita will drop down to continental level with the Skydive Dubai team in 2016. After leaving Orica-GreenEDGE, we was reportedly close to signing with Astana but will now move to the Arabian Peninsula.

"The last two years they have been hell. This team has a serious project," he tells La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I've had enough. Skydive is sure to get to the top level."

Santaromita is a team rider who enjoyed a career highlight when he became Italian champion in 2013. He did everything to rejoin Vincenzo Nibali at Astana but failed to reach an agreement. He was also in negotiations with Dimension. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that he would be given a spot in the South African team if they get the final spot in the WorldTour. However, Santaromita preferred to have huarantees instead of waiting until a final response would be given in the beginning of December. Hence, he chose to sign for the Dubai team.

"It is true that Skydive is only a continenta team," he says. "But I talked to [managers] Alberto Volpi and Ricardo Martins and I realized that their project is very valid. I like it. I accepted an agreement for one year, but if I will be good I will continue with them." 

The reason for the choice is clear.

"Other choices were possible but I didn't want to rush anything to join a professional team. Meanwhile, I have started my training and from December 10 I will make the first trip to Dubai to discover the new reality. " 

Here he will meat the other two new signings, Ukrainian time triallist Marlen Zmorka and Albanian sprinter Xhuliano Kamberaj that are both neo-pros..

Santaromita already has a rough idea about his schedule.

"Gabon [Tropicale Amissa Bongo, ed.] from January 18 to 24 will serve to start the engine," Volpi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Then we will be at the GP Emirates, Dubai Tour, Qatar and Oman. We also hop to do Langkawi, Coppi & Bartali and probably Trentino but that is not guaranteed yet."