Selle Italia will become a co-title sponsor of the current Italian ProContinental team Wilier Triestina-Southeast for 2017, while it is unknown if Southeast will remain involved with the team from 2017. The saddle company will occupy the second spot in the team’s title.

Selle Italia already provides saddles for the current Wilier-Southeast team, and will become co-title sponsor in 2017.

Managed by Angelo Citracca, the team began in 2009 as ISD–Neri and has since been known by a variety of names, including Farnese Vini, Neri Sottoli, Alé, and Venezuela. Selle Italia was previously a title sponsor of the team in 2012 and 2013.

“We have decided to support the Wilier because we are bound by a strong friendship with the Gastaledello family,” said Riccardo Bigolin, vice president of Selle Italia. “A friendship born with Marco Pantani and carried forward over the years,” said president Joseph Bigolin. “We have had the greatest satisfaction, as a sponsor so far, with the exploits of Jose Rujano in the Giro d’Italia.”

Wilier Triestina joined as lead title sponsor in April and announced in August that it would continue. “Our mission is to continue to enhance the reputations of Italian cycling across the world, both in terms of home-grown athletes, and also in bicycle manufacturing,” said CEO Andrea Gastaldello. “We’re proud to be associated with an all Italian team that has such lofty goals. Alongside the athletic performances, the team’s ability to capture the imagination of the fans is important, and this team has that ability.”

The team had a rough time with doping scandals. It had multiple positives during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, which resulted in Neri Sottoli dropping its sponsorship. Samuele Conti tested positive this past August and was handed a ban through 2020.

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