Alessio

TEAM PROFILE Country: Italy Team manager: Bruno Cenghialta Team leader: Pietro Caucchioli Best Tour: 2002 - Laurent Dufaux, 21st

Alessio opted for a major overhaul ahead of the 2004 season, with a host of riders leaving including Stefana Casagranda and Laurent Dufaux.

Dufaux's departure was a major loss to the team after his impressive outing in last year's Tour de France.

He was the team's highest-placed rider in 21st and was also second to Richard Virenque in the King of the Mountains competition.

The team, though, have bounced back despite his absence.

The first major success came courtesy of new signing Magnus Backstedt's win in the tough Paris-Roubaix, and further improved during an impressive Giro d'Italia.

Franco Pellizotti, Andrea Noe and Vladimir Miholjevic (11th, 17th and 24th respectively) fared well in the overall standings in what was another bright outing for the Italian outfit.

It was not quite as impressive, however, as a year before when they ended up as the number one team overall.

But putting so much into the Giro proved detrimental to their Tour de France ambitions and a repeat looks the likeliest course a year on.

That said, team leader Pietro Caucchioli missed the Giro and will be looking to make his mark.