Lampre-ISD 2012 Season in Review

Lampre-ISD’s 2012 season was largely underwhelming with not a single World Tour win and will end the season with a cloud of uncertainty engulfing the team. With only three riders winning races in 2012 this was a poor season for a team that regularly wins Grand Tour stages and is noticed in the peloton for more than just their pink jerseys. Michele Scarponi who finished second on the road in the 2011 Giro d’Italia inherited the maglia rosa after Alberto Contador was stripped of his results from the 2010 Tour de France but ends 2012 winless and suspended by his team for his meetings with the disgraced Italian doctor Michele Ferrari. Compatriot Filippo Pozzato was recently given a six month suspension for meeting with doctor and Scarponi looks likely to receive at least the same sentence. A new sponsor and team name in 2013 could see a rejuvenated Lampre team who will also be riding Merida bikes but two investigations into doping practices could derail the team’s preparation or season next year.