Italian Antonio Tiberi "parted ways" with his former team, Trek-Segafredo, in April after serving a three-month suspension for shooting a cat.

Tiberi, 21, was suspended in February by Trek Segafredo after it was revealed that he killed a cat with an air rifle near his home in San Marino last June.

Trek-Segafredo then announced in late April that the rider and team "mutually agreed to part ways immediately as the rider's behavior during the suspension period did not meet the criteria for return to competition."

The former junior world TT champion will now resume racing the Bahrain Victoria Sculler at the Tour de Suisse on June 11.

Bahrain Victorious team manager Milan Ezren said in a press release, "Antonio joining our team is a really positive move for us and for him. He is a very talented kid and we believe he will thrive in this environment where we want to run not only to win but also to inspire the next generation."

"He is obviously a talented rider and can do great things in this sport, but equally important to us is his personal growth and education. Antonio has made some mistakes, but he is aware of them, and with our focus on discipline, character development, and mentoring, he will be on the path to long-term success both on and off the bike."[13

Tiberi, 21, turned pro in 2020 with the Italian Continental team Colpack and joined Trek-Segafredo later that year. He has had a promising start to the season, finishing eighth overall in the Santos Tour Down Under and seventh overall in the UAE Tour.

In February, however, news broke that he was fined 4,000 euros and suspended from the team for shooting a cat owned by Pedini Amati, San Marino's Minister of Tourism and former head of state.

At the time, Tiberi issued a statement expressing deep regret for his actions, which he called "tremendously stupid and irresponsible."

According to Il Corriere della Sera, "My intention was simply to measure the range of the weapon, so I aimed at the no parking sign.

"I also admit that I (foolishly and unintentionally) tried to shoot the cat. And to my surprise, I actually shot it. I did not intend to kill the animal. In fact, I was convinced that the weapon was not capable of killing it."

Tiberi confessed to the crime when questioned by police in November, but Pedini Amati later argued that the punishment of a €4,000 fine and confiscation of the air rifle was too light and that the rider should also be stripped of his residency rights.

According to Il Corriere newspaper, "The cat was not bothering anyone.

"It was with us for a long time; our three-year-old daughter Lucia adored it. There is no way he could get away with a €4,000 fine for killing a pet. It is commendable that the killer admitted the facts. That does not mean that these people should be given residency rights."

It is not yet clear whether Tiberi is still a resident of San Marino.

Tiberi himself, in the same press release confirming his signing with Bahrain Victorious, referred somewhat euphemistically to the suspension and the cat shooting incident as "a forced suspension" and "mistakes made in the past," but said he looked forward to moving forward with his new team. He said, "I am happy to start a new chapter in my career with Team Bahrain Victorious, both performance-wise and human-wise. From the outside looking in, the team always looked well organized and solid, so I had no hesitation when I received the offer." "I already knew some of the Italian staff and riders and everyone in the group gave me a warm welcome. With the help of this team, I hope to prove that I have learned from my past mistakes. "

"I had a good start to the 2023 season, but after a forced hiatus I may struggle a bit to pick up the pace. That's why I'm training at altitude to get back on the road in Switzerland next week. I want to repay the trust of those who gave me this chance in the best possible way." It will be a path to becoming a better cyclist and a better person."