STANNARD TO SIGN FOR CIPO'S ISD SQUAD

Ian Stannard is set to sign for new Ukrainian-Italian team ISD - the squad that hit the headlines for signing Mario Cipollini as its PR man.

Stannard rode for Belgian-based Landbouwkrediet team in 2008. This year, the 21 year old got some serious Classics experience riding - and finishing - the Tour of Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. In 2007 he chalked up wins in Milano-Brusetto in Italy and the Eddy Soens Memorial race in Britain, and rode the latter part of the season as stagiaire for the now defunct T-Mobile squad.

ISD is a professional continental squad lead by 2007 Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti. The team will be relying on Cipollini's PR skills and Visconti's gravitias to get a place at the big Italian events such as the Giro d'Italia and Milan-San Remo.

Half of the Italian-based team comprises of Ukrainian riders, who will be looking to gain valuable experience from their central European team-mates. The official team presentation is scheduled to take place in Venice, Italy, on December 13.

The team's sponsor, ISD Sports Club, is a foundation started by Ukrainian steel manufacturers ISD that promotes, nurtures and sponsors a broad selection of sports in the Ukraine.