Franco Pellizotti has signed a contract with Vincenzo Nibali’s Bahrain-Merida team for 2017 in a move that sees the 38-year-old return to the WorldTour for the first time in five years.
Pellizotti has raced at Pro Continental level with Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec since 2012 but previously rode with Nibali at Liquigas from 2006 through to 2010.
Pellizotti had vowed to quit the sport in 2011 when he was handed a two-year ban for irregular blood readings stemming from his UCI Biological Passport. After a lengthy case, which was appealed by the UCI, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that he should lose his 'king of the mountains' title from the 2009 Tour de France, as well as his podium place in the 2009 Giro d’Italia. He was also handed a fine of 115,000 Euro.
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Since his return to the sport, the Italian has carved out a captain's role at the Androni team, winning the national road title in 2012 and finishing 10th at the Giro d’Italia in 2013.
“He was third overall in the 2009 Giro and he won the polka dot jersey in Paris as the best climber of the Tour de France in 2009,” the Bahrain-Merida team announced in a press release.
Pellizotti, who turns 39 in January, added: “I am really happy for more than one reason.
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