after his return ivan basso signed a two-year contract with , his first race being in the japan cup on 26 october 2008. he proceeded to finish third, after damiano cunego and giovanni visconti. in april 2009 he claimed overall victory in the italian stage race giro del trentino. he then competed in his main objective for the year, the giro d'italia, where he finished fifth behind eventual winner denis menchov, danilo di luca, fellow liquigas rider franco pellizotti and 2008 tour de france winner carlos sastre. he also placed 4th in the 2009 vuelta a españa behind alejandro valverde, samuel sánchez, and cadel evans respectively.