Cedric Vasseur`s Cofidis evolution has taken its biggest step yet with the announcement this week that Elia Viviani will join the team for 2020. The Italian signed a two-year contract with Vasseur`s team and will bring lead-out man Fabio Sabatini with him, while his younger brother Attilo joins as a stagiaire for the remainder of 2019, with a view to signing a pro contract for the following season. For Vasseur, the recruitment of Viviani represents his most significant signing since taking over the management of the team in 2018. The Frenchman has tried and failed to kick-start Nacer Bouhanni´s career, but in Viviani he has signed a consistent winner and marquee rider to fit with the squad´s plans of joining the WorldTour in 2020. The recruitment process goes back to last year. By then, Vasseur was already scouting for a replacement for Bouhanni, but his hands were tied until the Frenchman´s expensive contract expired.ADVERTISEMENT As the 2019 season wore on, Vasseur pinpointed Viviani has his top pick. At the same time, Viviani and his agent, Giovanni Lombardi, were aware that few teams would be able to provide the Italian with the structure in place at Deceuninck-QuickStep and the salary he believed he deserved. Cofidis, at the very least, had a ready-made spot for a sprinter and would allow for Viviani to pick and choose his targets. There would be few discussions on shared leadership, while Viviani could also bring with him his tried and trusted lead-out man, Sabatini. `Everything started at the start of the season and at the Giro we realised that QuickStep were not going to be able to keep all their roster for next year. Alaphilippe was out of contract and I got in touch with Elia´s agent,` Vasseur told Cyclingnews. `Then everything went really fast. We had a meeting before the Dauphine in Nice, close to where he lives in Monaco. I had a one-hour talk with Elia and explained to him where I wanted to go with things next year. The first meeting we had ...
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