Lotto fishes another big Italian name from the transfer-free pond: "Then the puzzle finally came together after all"

Lotto announced on Thursday morning that Elia Viviani has joined their squad. The 36-year-old Italian was without a team after parting ways with INEOS Grenadiers but secured a one-year contract with the ProContinental Lotto team after productive discussions.

In a press release, the Belgian squad referred to their new signing as a "top sprinter", which Viviani certainly was for many years. He has an impressive 89 career victories, including stage wins in all three grand tours. His most notable success came in 2018, when he won four stages in the Giro d’Italia, securing the points classification as well.

Viviani’s biggest achievements came during his time with Patrick Lefevere’s powerhouse sprint team. Racing for Soudal-Quick Step, he racked up 18 wins in 2018 and 11 more in 2019, including his first and only stage victory in the Tour de France. However, he couldn’t resist the call of INEOS, where he had raced from 2015 to 2017 before returning in 2022 after two underwhelming seasons at Cofidis.

Viviani first made a name for himself on the road with INEOS in 2017, but never won much in an environment where GC ambitions took priority. Still, he likely considers his time with the British superteam a success, as INEOS gave him full freedom to pursue track cycling, where he has been one of the world’s best for years. He won silver in the Madison at the 2024 Olympics and is also a two-time World Champion in the Elimination Race.

Read more below the photo.

Viviani no longer to be seen in an INEOS Grenadiers jersey

Lotto still hopes to get Viviani going

Elia Viviani last won a road race in October 2023, and his last Grand Tour appearance was in the 2021 Giro d’Italia. That means Lotto has some work to do in getting the Italian sprinter back to form. “I still want to sprint full gas for every victory, but at the same time, I want to pass on my experience to this young team,” he said, acknowledging that several young talents are making their way up the ranks at Lotto.

"I'm particularly happy to continue my career with Lotto," he added, sounding relieved. "I’m ready to take on this role—to give my new teammates advice, whether they’re sprinters or not, and to help them grow. Even at 36 years old, I’m still motivated. I’m still a sprinter. I want to win."

Viviani believes that his extended time as a free agent was due to his focus on track cycling. “After dedicating last summer to preparing for the Olympics and the track, it turned out to be difficult to find a team. I hadn’t really been able to prove myself on the road. But then, Stéphane (general manager Heulot) heard about my situation, and the puzzle pieces finally came together.”

Heulot knows exactly what he’s getting with Viviani. “I’ve known Elia Viviani for ten years—our paths have crossed with previous teams. That’s why I’m so pleased to announce his signing and welcome him to our squad. Elia brings a wealth of experience that he can pass on to our riders, and at the same time, I’m convinced he still has a big role to play in sprint finishes.”

Viviani's wife Elena Cecchini was already riding for Lotto in 2015. "She was absolutely thrilled.

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