Refin–Mobilvetta (UCI code: REF), previously known as ''Brescialat-Ceramiche Refin'' and ''Refin-Cantina Tollo'', was an Italian-based

road bicycle racing Road bicycle racing is the cycle sport discipline of road cycling, held primarily on Road surface, paved roads. Road racing is the most popular professional form of bicycle racing, in terms of numbers of competitors, events and spectators. The ...

team active from 1995 to 1997.
From 1995 to 1997 the main sponsor was Ceramiche Refin, a ceramics company headquartered in Salvaterra (

Casalgrande Casalgrande ( Reggiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about west of Bologna and about southeast of Reggio Emilia. As of 8 January 2017, it had a population of 19,21 ...

History

Refin–Cantina Tollo

The team began life in 1995 under the name of Refin–Cantina Tollo, set up by the manager Primo Franchini, who left the ''Brescialat–Ceramiche Refin'' team to found a new team, taking with him four cyclists from ''Brescialat'' (

Felice Puttini Felice Puttini (born 18 September 1967) is a Swiss former cyclist. He was the Swiss National Road Race champion in 1994 and 1995. He also competed in the road race at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Career achievements Major results ;1985 : 2nd N ...

, Fabio Roscioli, Roberto Pelliconi and Heinz Imboden).
In its first year, the team took part in the

Giro d'Italia The Giro d'Italia (; ), also known simply as the Giro, is an annual stage race, multiple-stage bicycle racing, bicycle race primarily held in Italy, while also starting in, or passing through, other countries. The first race was organized in 19 ...

, where Heinz Imboden came 8th in the overall ranking.

Refin–Mobilvetta

In 1996, Refin–Mobilvetta signed up

Djamolidine Abdoujaparov Djamolidine Mirgarifanovich Abdoujaparov (; born 28 February 1964) is a former professional road racing cyclist from Uzbekistan. Abdoujaparov was a sprinter, nicknamed "The Tashkent Terror" as he was so ferocious in the sprints. His unorthodox ...

in the hope of winning a significant number of races thanks to his skills as a sprint cyclist, together with the talents of

Andreas Kappes Andreas Kappes (23 December 1965 – 31 July 2018) was a German cyclist, who was a professional from 1987 to 2009, active on the road and on the track, collecting in total 133 wins, and, as an amateur, represented West Germany at the 1984 Summer ...

, already on the team.
After a good year in 1996, the team registered for the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage cycle sport, bicycle race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tour (cycling), Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a ...

, during which it won the 15th stage thanks to

Abdoujaparov Abdoujaparov are a punk band formed on 19 October 1998 by ex-Carter USM guitarist Les Carter (aka Fruitbat). Abdoujaparov's musical foundation is in 1977 punk rock. Eight EPs, two singles and four albums have been released so far. A compilati ...

.
In 1997, new members Stefano Colagè and

Marco Lietti Marco Lietti (born 20 April 1965, in Gravedona) is an Italian former road cyclist, who was a professional rider from 1988 to 1997. He only rode for Italian teams. Major results ;1986 : 1st Coppa Collecchio ;1988 :3rd Gran Piemonte :9th Firenze ...

completed a very young team, which took part for the last time in the

and the

Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España (; ) is an annual stage race, multi-stage bicycle racing, bicycle race primarily held in Spain, while also occasionally making passes through nearby countries. Inspired by the success of the Tour de France and the Giro d'Ital ...

.
At the end of the year, the Refin sponsor pulled out, and founded ; it could not be seen as a continuation of the preceding team, because it had other team leaders, another bicycle and the only cyclist Luigi Della Bianca .

Notable riders

Johan Capiot Johan Capiot (born 12 April 1964) is a Belgian former professional road racing cyclist. He was a professional rider from 1986 to 2000. His son Amaury is also a professional cyclist. Major results ;1986 : 1st Stage 3 Danmark Rundt : 2nd Grote ...

Jo Planckaert Jo Planckaert (born 16 December 1970) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. He is the son of former professional road bicycle racer Willy Planckaert, brother of famous road bicycle racers Eddy Planckaert, Eddy and Walter Planckaer ...

* Heinz Imboden *

Tobias Steinhauser Tobias Steinhauser (born 27 January 1972) is a German former professional cycle sport, cyclist. He is the brother-in-law of Jan Ullrich. Steinhauser lives together with his wife and three children in Scheidegg, Bavaria. After his professional ca ...

* Serguei Uslamine *

Asiat Saitov Asyat Mansurovich Saitov (; born 1 January 1965) is a retired Russian cyclist. He missed the 1984 Summer Olympics due to their boycott by the Soviet Union and competed at the Friendship Games instead, winning a silver medal in the team road race ...

* Flavio Giupponi *

Rodolfo Massi Rodolfo Massi (; born 17 September 1965) is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He won a stage in 1996 Giro d'Italia and 1998 Tour de France, but was expelled from the 1998 Tour de France after illegal doping was found in his hote ...

Leonardo Piepoli Leonardo Piepoli (born 29 September 1971 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) is a former Italy, Italian professional Bicycle road racing, road racing cyclist. He most recently rode for on the UCI ProTour, but had his contract suspended in July 20 ...

* Stefano Colagè * Luca Mazzanti * Fabio Roscioli *

* Mauro Bettin

External links

Official site of Ceramiche Refin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Refin-Mobilvetta Defunct cycling teams based in Italy Cycling teams based in Italy Cycling teams established in 1995 Cycling teams disestablished in 1997 1995 establishments in Italy 1997 disestablishments in Italy