Rafael Valls Ferri has become the next Vacansoleil rider to find a new team for the 2014 season. The Spaniard has signed a contract with Lampre-Merida where he will get more chances to chase personal success.

Vacansoleil is folding at the end of the season and its riders are desperately looking to secure their futures. The most recent rider to do so is Rafael Valls Ferri who has signed a contract with Lampre for next season.

Valls Ferri is a talented climber when he won a stage of the 2010 Tour de San Luis on just his second day of racing as a professional rider with the Footon-Servetto team. A few weeks later he finished 2nd in one of the hardest races in the Mallorca series of one-day races.

He rode his first Tour de France in his debut season and finished 2nd behind Sylvain Chavanel on stage 7. Since then he has been hampered by injuries and hasn't been able to live up to the big expectations.

This year he was riding well in the Giro d'Italia but broke his rib on stage 6 and finished a modest 29th. He is currently riding his 6th grand tour in the Vuelta.

"We believe Valls is ready to pursue his personal ambitions and we think our team could be the proper place for him to show his skills," team manager Giuseppe Saronni says. "Valls is an experienced rider and he'll be able to play an important role in the team."

Valls Ferri is Lampre's third big-name signing for the 2014 season following the announcements that Sacha Modolo and Rui Costa will join the Italian team.