An immensely significant victory. Liquigas-Cannondale wraps up the season with 38 wins

The team’s hopes and dreams on the eve of the race came true: Liquigas-Cannondale has won the final race of the season, the Japan Cup, thanks to an incredible performance by Ivan Basso. This was the best possible end to Liquigas’ adventure: the Italian company is bidding a fond farewell to cycling after eight years.

Basso sealed the green and blue team’s season with win number 38 by out-powering Martin and Majka in the final three-man sprint. The decisive move came with 20 km to go and was followed by another attack on the final climb 3 km from the finish; this meant the peloton, which was superbly controlled by his teammates, had no chance of bridging across to the Italian.

«We really wanted this win and it’s quite emotional. The entire team wanted to honour this race as it was a very significant one for us. It’s a way of thanking Liquigas for the commitment and passion that they brought to cycling. On a personal note, coming back to Japan four years after I started with Liquigas and winning on the day they say adieu to cycling is something very special that I can’t put into words. We had a great win today; I might have crossed the line first but it was only thanks to the brilliant work by all my teammates. We’re all really happy: the people have been very welcoming which is fantastic and today is a day for everyone to celebrate. »

Ivan Basso’s victory is also the first time a Cannondale team has won the Japan Cup.

First stage brings first win: Viviani’s seventh in 2012

Liquigas-Cannondale has secured its 37th win of the season in China. The man to thank is one the team’s most promising young riders, Elia Viviani, who after a series of brilliant but unsuccessful sprint finishes is savouring the taste of victory again. The Italian now has seven wins under his belt in 2012 and when he returns to Italy will conclude a very long season during which he has excelled both on the roads and on the track, where his experience culminated in the Olympic Games in London. 

Viviani won the first of the five stages at the Tour of Beijing by outsprinting Fenn, Boasson Hagen and Van Hummel at the end of today’s 117 km opener from Tiananmen Square to the Olympic Stadium. Viviani’s victory takes him to the top of every classification at the Tour of Beijing: general, sprint and young rider.

The Shark bids adieu: «I will never forget the past seven years. ». Ivan Basso also in Saturday’s line-up

Liquigas-Cannondale wraps up its Italian season this weekend by competing in the Giro dell’Emilia (Saturday, 6th October) and the GP Bruno Beghelli (Sunday, 7th). This will be Liquigas’ final official race on the roads of Italy: as previously announced the leading Italian LPG distributor concludes its adventure in the world of cycling with the 2012 season. As Liquigas says farewell so too does Vincenzo Nibali who will compete in his final race wearing the green and blue colours of Liquigas-Cannondale in the Giro dell’Emilia: after seven years (the team’s longest standing member) and 25 victories, the Shark is moving to a new team for 2013. Alessandro Vanotti, another green and blue veteran, is also leaving Liquigas-Cannondale after six seasons with the team.

«This team has made an indelible impression on my career, and I will never forget the years we have spent together. » said Nibali. «I’ve grown since 2006, and so has the team and together we have achieved some incredible results. I feel like I’m leaving a family, it’s a unique group and they are more than just colleagues. I wish the new squad a future full of rewarding experiences, at least as many as we’ve accomplished in the past seven years. »

So from goodbyes to racing. Liquigas-Cannondale has pinned its chances of success at the Giro dell’Emilia on Ivan Basso, Damiano Caruso and of course Vincenzo Nibali. However the Sicilian is not in the best condition as he is still feeling the after-effects of his crash during “Il Lombardia”. The three will be supported by Federico Canuti, Kristijan Koren, Josè Sarmiento, Alessandro Vanotti and Matthias Krizek.

For the GP Beghelli on Sunday Liquigas-Cannondale has selected Caruso, Canuti, Koren, Sarmiento, Vanotti and Krizek who will be joined by two speedsters, Fabio Sabatini and Marco Benfatto. Mario Scirea is in charge of DS duties for both races.