Ivan Santaromita Joins ORICA-GreenEDGE

ORICA-GreenEDGE is excited to announce the addition of Ivan Santaromita to its roster for 2014. Santaromita will join the Australian based outfit with the distinction of being the team’s first Italian rider. Most impressively, he also brings the coveted tricolore jersey with him.

“I’m really pleased to get this opportunity with ORICA-GreenEDGE,” said Santaromita. “I know a lot of people there already and the team has a great reputation in the peloton. I’m proud to be the first Italian that the team signs up. Plus, it will be a great way to show my national champion’s jersey.”

“Santaromita comes to us as one of the few new riders for 2014,” added Sport Director Matt White. “He’s a great addition. Ivan has had a very consistent year with two big wins - one at Trentino and then the biggest win of his career in the Italian National Road Championships. The Italian jersey is a big jersey to bring to GreenEDGE. It’s a very revered jersey in Europe.”

Based in Varese, Italy near the team’s service course, Santaromita comes to the organisation as an already familiar face.

“People in our management have known Ivan for a long time,” noted White. “He’s been with English speaking teams before, and we are confident that he’ll fit in easily.”

Known more for targeting stage wins with an aggressive and opportunistic style of riding, ORICA-GreenEDGE is looking to strengthen its roster with climbers like Santaromita.

“There’s one area we are starting to bolster and that’s in our climbing,” says White. “Ivan certainly does bolster that. We’ll target a lot of the Italian races with Santaromita.”

The 29 year old has been in the pro peloton since 2006. Although a seasoned professional, Santaromita is enthusiastic about his development and his role within this team.

“I feel like this team will give me the space to grow as a rider,” said Santaromita. “I look forward to helping my new teammates to even more success. When given the opportunity, I would obviously also like to repay their faith in me with some results along the way. I think my strengths are mainly in the stage races and hopefully I can be an asset to the team there.”