Santa Cruz, – Giro® is pleased to announce that beginning January 1, 2008, Team Astana will train and race exclusively with Giro helmets, specifically Ionos™ and Advantage 2™ models. The team, which includes reigning Tour de France Champion Alberto Contador and US National Road Champion Levi Leipheimer will debut Astana’s famed turquoise, yellow, and white livery on their new helmets at the team’s first training camp next month. And the riders are stoked. “I’m really fortunate that I get to keep racing with Giro helmets. There were a lot of long, hot climbs in the Tour this year and the remarkable ventilation of the Ionos really kept me cool, which I think was a big advantage”, said Levi Leipheimer.

Giro and Astana’s General Manager, Johan Bruyneel, have come together again to continue a cycling legacy. “I have a long history with Giro, both as a rider and Team Director. Year after year, Giro has impressed me with the performance of their products, which deliver a proven advantage to the riders. They are a brand that set the bar for everyone else so the decision for me and Astana to continue with them was clear”, said Bruyneel.

A number of Astana riders will enjoy Skull Hugging Luxury™ and Giro’s proprietary Super Fit™ performance, by running Giro helmets and eyewear in 2008. Alberto Contador, who debuted the Giro Havik™ sunglass at the 2007 Tour de France will continue to ride and develop eyewear for Giro. Jani Brajkovic, Sergio Paulinho, and Benjamin Noval are the newest members of the Giro eyewear squad. Giro’s Senior Sports Marketing Manager Chuck Platt said more riders are likely to be announced soon. “The response to our new eyewear program has been insane. Riders are recognizing the fact that we’ve developed eyewear specifically for the sport of cycling and they really want to race with it”.

Team Astana will put their new Giro products to use at training camp next month in New Mexico and will make their racing debut a couple weeks later at the Tour Down Under in Australia.

About Giro Sport Design

Giro®, based in Santa Cruz, CA, is a worldwide leader in the design, development and marketing of premium, high-performance protective gear and accessories for action sports and active lifestyles. We are an innovative and consumer-focused brand, with a mission to create products on the leading edge of inspired design that help you to look and feel your best.