Mapei (cycling team)

Among the Clas-riders who joined the Italian Mapei team were Fernando Escartín, Abraham Olano and, most prominently, Swiss top rider Tony Rominger.

GB had previously sponsored the Italian MG–Maglificio team, which has had success in the early nineties in part due to a Flemish influence.

The team had the great Belgian and Italian classic specialists of the 1990s such as Johan Museeuw, Michele Bartoli, Andrea Tafi, Franco Ballerini, and had Patrick Lefevere as directeur sportif and then manager.

The only true stage race specialist was Tony Rominger, who won the 1994 Vuelta a España and the 1995 Giro d'Italia for the team.

As Rominger focused on the Tour de France in 1996, Abraham Olano was given the leadership role at the Giro d'Italia in 1996.

The Mapei team jersey was first produced by Parentini and featured numerous colourful cubes from the main sponsor's product packaging.

Johan Museeuw celebrating victory at the 2000 Paris-Roubaix