Antonio Piedra will return to professional cycling with the Funvic Soul Cycles-Carrefour, the new Brazilian pro continental team. The Andalusian winner of the Lagos de Covadonga stage in the 2012 Vuleta a Espana will again pin on a race number after a year away from the pro scene.
Piedra is ready to start a "new phase" of his career. "We never know what the future holds. This time they gave me a chance to compete again after spending a year in the dark," he said in a message on his Facebook site.
"I must confess that during the first few weeks I was surprised. I had never expected to get a chance to be professional again. Cycling is going through particularly delicate years where finding team is not easy, so I consider myself privileged to get the opportunity with this new Brazilian professional team: Funvic Soul Carrefour," he said about his new team.
"At the moment I will start my season with the same enthusiasm as in years past, and I hope to give more joy to all those who have always supported me," he wrote.
Piedra was professional for eight years, with Fuerteventura (2007), Andalusia (2008-2011) and Caja Rural (2012-2014) before he was forced to wave goodbye.
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