Tinkoff-Saxo have announced the signing of Ivan Basso (Cannondale) on a two year deal starting in 2015. The veteran Italian's career has been long and successful, twice winning the Giro d'Italia, as well as twice finishing on the podium at the Tour de France. Basso has also been involved in controversy, serving a two year ban as a result of the Operation Puerto affair, but returned from that ban in 2008 and found success once again with his second Giro victory in 2010.
Now at the age of 36, Basso can no longer be considered a Grand Tour contender, his last race win came in the Japan Cup in 2012 and he has found form harder to come by since. However he can still perform at a high level on occasion; he certainly looked good during the 2013 Vuelta a Espana before being forced out of the race with hypothermia.
At Tinkoff-Saxo Basso will be a potential leader for some of the shorter stage races on the calendar, but his primary role will be that of a road captain for a Grand Tour contender; whether that is Rafal Majka at the Giro d'Italia or Alberto Contador at the Tour de France. Basso's experience is second to none and his riding style is well suited to such a role, he isn't an explosive climber, instead he is at his best setting a consistent high pace on a climb, which is perfect for providing a launch pad for a team leader to go on the offensive.
In the Tinkoff-Saxo press release team owner Oleg Tinkoff expressed his delight with the signing: “With Alberto, Peter, Rafal and now Ivan we will become the number 1 team. I have always liked Ivan; he was at lunch with me in 2007 as I would have liked him to be with my team already then. Now I’m happy to have him in our team because I know how serious and dedicated he is. I believe that he can be an important asset for conquering the Pink Jersey at Giro”
Basso's transfer makes him the fifth confirmed signing by Tinkoff-Saxo for the 2015 season, alongside Pavel Brutt, Maciej Bodnar and the Sagan brothers, Peter and Juraj; he is unlikely to be the last.