Following his recent retirement from professional cycling, Ivan Basso is taking a step into the management side of the sport by becoming the technical coordinator at Tinkoff-Saxo.
The 37-year-old, who won two Giro d'Italia titles in his career, hung up his wheels after overcoming testicular cancer, which was diagnosed during the Tour de France.
After 17 seasons in the peloton, Basso will use his knowledge and experience to develop and optimise the collaboration between the riders and the technical functions of the team, according to the team.
What that actually entails is a bit vague, but the Italian's continued presence with the team will undoubtedly benefit Tinkoff-Saxo and its riders in the years to come.
“I’m extremely happy and I thank the team owner Oleg Tinkov, the management of the team and the sports directors for their warm welcome in relations to this new role I will have within the team," Basso said.
"It’s a very important opportunity for me to start a new path in my career. I will be the link and coordinator between the riders and the group of sports directors.
"I will ride with them, I will test the new material, the race courses and I will do whatever is necessary to help the team."
Basso and the Tinkoff staff will oversee world champion Peter Sagan in his quest for a fifth consecutive Tour de France green jersey and Classics victories in 2016, as well as Alberto Contador's attempts to win the Tour and Vuelta a España.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Enve introduces new SES line-up: hookless, tubeless-only and purpose-built for ‘modern road riding’
Simplified line offers four new discipline-specific American-made wheels with a proprietary hub
-
'I had lactate up to my ears': Mathieu van der Poel's stage 17 attack was an 'all or nothing' attempt
The Dutchman acknowledged he was perhaps too optimistic, but seemed encouraged by his performance nevertheless
-
Former cycling team boss Oleg Tinkov comes out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Former owner of Tinkoff-Saxo says war is "unthinkable and unacceptable"
-
Former Tinkoff owner Oleg Tinkov convicted of tax fraud and fined over $500 million
The Russian was also handed a one-year suspended jail sentence
-
Oleg Tinkov to pay $500m after pleading guilty to US tax fraud
The Russian billionaire and former team owner pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return
-
Oleg Tinkov and Bjarne Riis in war of words over the way Tinkoff team was run
As the Tinkoff team comes to an end, Bjarne Riis and Oleg Tinkov continue to disagree over the way the squad was run
-
Sean Yates: ‘I don’t think I’ll be on a WorldTour team in 2017'
British sports director and former pro Sean Yates may have to leave the WorldTour when the Tinkoff team ends in December
-
Daniele Bennati suffers fractured vertebra in Milan-San Remo crash
Veteran Italian rider Daniele Bennati came down in crash shortly before the climb of the Cipressa
-
Alberto Contador: Volta a Catalunya line-up 'as good as Tour de France'
Tinkoff leader Alberto Contador says that he's been suffering from a cold after Paris-Nice and may not be at his best in Volta a Catalunya (March 21-27)
-
'Give us a lift': Peter Sagan takes Oscar Gatto out for a ride (video)
World champion Peter Sagan gives Tinkoff team-mate Oscar Gatto a lift out of the team hotel
