Another Gazprom riders finds a new team, as Andrea Piccolo signs with Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli

Andrea Piccolo is the new signing of Drone Hopper - Androni Giocattoli. The young Italian talent was another of Gazprom - Rusvelo riders left without a contract in March, but has found a new home in the Italian team.

He's said to already be making his debut this weekend in the national championships. Piccolo was one of the most promising under-23 riders having won the GP Festa del Perdono last year. He had been signed by Astana Qazaqstan but raced only in the second half of the season after his contract was broken. The 21-year old is a promising puncheur and classics rider

Piccolo is not the first rider to find a new team after the disbandment of Gazprom-Rusvelo. The team was sanctioned as backlash for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and all the riders in the team were left without a contract. Nicola Conci signed for the Alpecin-Fenix Development Team - although he's been racing with the main team, Alessandro Fedeli signed with EOLO-Kometa, José Manuel Díaz signed with Burgos-BH, Michael Kukrle signed with Elkov - Kasper and Eirik Lunder signed with Team Coop.

Mathias Vacek is said to have already signed a long-term contract with Trek - Segafredo whilst Matteo Malucelli has been rumoured for a move into Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team.