Ariostea
Encyclopedia
Ariostea was an Italian
professional cycling team from 1984 to 1993. Its first team manager was Giorgio Vannucci, who was replaced in 1986 by Giancarlo Ferretti
. He remained team manager until the team was disbanded in 1993.
by Sergio Santimaria (1st stage, maglia rosa for one day) and Norwegian
rider Dag Erik Pedersen
(17th stage).
In the late 1980s the team became a more prominent presence in the peloton. One of its successful riders was Rolf Sørensen
who won Paris–Tours in 1990 and the Tirreno–Adriatico of 1992. Moreno Argentin
won the team its first "monument"
, the 1990 Ronde van Vlaanderen, followed by a victory at the La Flèche Wallonne
. 1990 also saw the team's first Tour de France
stage win (Argentin) and two more Giro
stages (Adriano Baffi
).
In 1991, Argentin scored another double in Belgium, with wins in La Flèche Wallonne
and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Davide Cassani
won three major classics in Italy (Milano–Torino, Giro dell'Emillia and Coppa Agostoni), while Massimiliano Lelli
won two Giro
stages - finishing third overall, followed in the summer by yet another Tour de France
stage win by Argentin.
Ariostea dominated the 1992 Tirreno–Adriatico with five stage wins and the general classification (Sørensen). Giorgio Furlan
won the Tour de Suisse
, Rolf Gölz
the Tour Méditerranéen
. There was another stage win in the Giro
, this time for Marco Saligari
. Roberto Conti
finished 9th in the general classification.
In its final year, Ariostea was victorious in the Amstel Gold Race
(Rolf Järmann
). Bjarne Riis
won a Giro
stage, as did Saligari, who was also the winner that year of the Tour de Suisse
. By far the most successful rider of the team this year was Pascal Richard
of Switzerland
. He won the Giro del Lazio
, Giro di Lombardia, the Tour de Romandie
and a handful of stages and one day races throughout the year.
Team manager Ferretti and a number of riders went to the next year.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
professional cycling team from 1984 to 1993. Its first team manager was Giorgio Vannucci, who was replaced in 1986 by Giancarlo Ferretti
Giancarlo Ferretti
Giancarlo Ferretti is the former manager of the now-disbanded Italian professional road bicycle racing team Fassa Bortolo team, sponsored by the Italian cement company of the same name....
. He remained team manager until the team was disbanded in 1993.
Results
The first major victories were the two stage wins at the 1986 Giro d'Italia1986 Giro d'Italia
The 1986 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 69th edition of the race, was held from 12 May to 2 June 1986. It covered a total of 3,858 km at an average speed of 37.615 km/h, in 22 stages...
by Sergio Santimaria (1st stage, maglia rosa for one day) and Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
rider Dag Erik Pedersen
Dag Erik Pedersen
Dag Erik Pedersen is a retired Norwegian road racing cyclist with a long career as professional. He won 3 stages in the Giro d'Italia and he came 4th in the Road race in the 1981 World Championship...
(17th stage).
In the late 1980s the team became a more prominent presence in the peloton. One of its successful riders was Rolf Sørensen
Rolf Sørensen
Rolf Sørensen is a former Danish professional road bicycle racer. He is the most successful Danish bicycle racer ever, with his 53 victories over 17 seasons. He is currently working as a cycling commentator and agent. Born in Helsinge in Denmark, Sørensen moved to Italy at the age of 17, where he...
who won Paris–Tours in 1990 and the Tirreno–Adriatico of 1992. Moreno Argentin
Moreno Argentin
Moreno Argentin is an Italian former professional cyclist .Born in San Donà di Piave , he won stages in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de Suisse. Known as Il Capo , he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège four times, the La Flèche Wallonne three times and the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Giro...
won the team its first "monument"
Classic cycle races
The classic cycle races are one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. Most of the events, all run in western Europe, have been fixtures on the professional calendar for decades and the oldest ones date back to the 19th Century. They are normally held at roughly the same...
, the 1990 Ronde van Vlaanderen, followed by a victory at the La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
. 1990 also saw the team's first Tour de France
1990 Tour de France
The 1990 Tour de France was the 77th Tour de France, taking place June 30 to July 22, 1990. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3504 km, with riders averaging 38.62 km/h...
stage win (Argentin) and two more Giro
1990 Giro d'Italia
The 1990 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 73rd running of the race, was held from 18 May to 6 June 1990. It covered 3,450 km, for a total of 21 stages, and was completed at an average speed of 37.609 km/h....
stages (Adriano Baffi
Adriano Baffi
Adriano Baffi is a former Italian bicycle road racer. After his career as a rider, he became a team director. He is the son of Italian bicycle racer Pierino Baffi.Baffi was born in Vailate, Italy...
).
In 1991, Argentin scored another double in Belgium, with wins in La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Davide Cassani
Davide Cassani
Davide Cassani is a former road cyclist from Italy. He now works as a cycling commentator on Italian television.He was born in Faenza. In 1982 he made his professional debut with Termolan-Galli...
won three major classics in Italy (Milano–Torino, Giro dell'Emillia and Coppa Agostoni), while Massimiliano Lelli
Massimiliano Lelli
Massimiliano Lelli was an Italian professional cyclist. He most known for winning the Young rider Classification in the 1991 Giro d'Italia. His highest finishing in the Giro d'Italia was the year he won the Young rider classification, he placed third that year...
won two Giro
1991 Giro d'Italia
The 1991 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 74th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 26 May to 16 June 1991. It covered 3,715 km completed at an average speed of 37.03 km/h, for a total of 21 stages...
stages - finishing third overall, followed in the summer by yet another Tour de France
1991 Tour de France
The 1991 Tour de France was the 78th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 28, 1991. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3914 km, with riders averaging 38.747 km/h.-Stages:-General classification:-External links:* *...
stage win by Argentin.
Ariostea dominated the 1992 Tirreno–Adriatico with five stage wins and the general classification (Sørensen). Giorgio Furlan
Giorgio Furlan
Giorgio Furlan is an Italian former road bicycle racer.-Major results:19861990Giorgio Furlan is an Italian former road bicycle racer.-Major results:1986...
won the Tour de Suisse
Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
, Rolf Gölz
Rolf Gölz
Rolf Gölz is a retired road and track cyclist from Germany, who was a professional rider from 1985 to 1993. He represented West Germany at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won the silver medal in the men's individual pursuit, behind America's Steve Hegg...
the Tour Méditerranéen
Tour Méditerranéen
Tour Méditerranéen is a professional road bicycle racing event held in southern France along the Mediterranean Sea. The Tour Méditerranéen is a five-day stage race that began in 1974 and since 2005 has been a part of the UCI Europe Tour as a 2.1 event...
. There was another stage win in the Giro
1992 Giro d'Italia
The 1992 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 75th edition of the race, was held from 24 May to 14 June 1992. It covered a total of 3,835 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.017 km/h...
, this time for Marco Saligari
Marco Saligari
Marco Saligari is a directeur sportif and former Italian road bicycle racer who raced during the 1990s...
. Roberto Conti
Roberto Conti
Roberto Conti is a former Italian cyclist, whose biggest win came in the 1994 Tour de France as he won the Alpe D'Huez stage after an impressive break-away. His professional career ended in 2003.-Palmarès:1987...
finished 9th in the general classification.
In its final year, Ariostea was victorious in the Amstel Gold Race
Amstel Gold Race
The Amstel Gold Race is a road bicycle race held in the southern part of the province of Limburg, Netherlands. Since 1989 it has been among the races included in season long rankings tables, as part of the UCI Road World Cup , the UCI ProTour , UCI World Ranking and from 2011 the UCI World Tour...
(Rolf Järmann
Rolf Järmann
Rolf Järmann is a retired road bicycle racer from Switzerland, who was a professional rider from 1988 to 1999. He twice won the Amstel Gold Race during his career...
). Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...
won a Giro
1993 Giro d'Italia
The 1993 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 76th edition of the race, was held from 23 May to 13 June 1993, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,703 km, completed at an average speed of 37.723 km/h...
stage, as did Saligari, who was also the winner that year of the Tour de Suisse
Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. By far the most successful rider of the team this year was Pascal Richard
Pascal Richard
Pascal Richard is a French-speaking Swiss former racing cyclist. He is most notable as a former King of the Mountains winner at the Giro d'Italia and Olympic Games gold medalist.-Biography:...
of Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He won the Giro del Lazio
Giro del Lazio
The Giro del Lazio is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the region of Lazio, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
, Giro di Lombardia, the Tour de Romandie
Tour de Romandie
The Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI World Tour. It runs in the Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Swiss Cycling....
and a handful of stages and one day races throughout the year.
Team manager Ferretti and a number of riders went to the next year.