Danish team overrun by the Spanish
The departure of Andy and Frank Schleck from team Saxo Bank has sparked a major overhaul, and the signing of three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador as the team’s central contender has given a decidedly Spanish feel to this overhaul. Team manager Bjarne Riis has said he’s not too concerned about the future of the team, and that there is a long list of riders eager to work with him.
“Things are under control. We are working on it at present and in the near future we will begin to put some more names out there,” he said.
Team director left the team to work with the Schleck brothers in the formation of a new Luxembourg-based team managed by Brian Nygaard. Dane Jakob Fuglsang has been linked to the team, as have Stuart O’Grady and Jens Voigt from Saxo Bank.
“One of the reasons is of course that I want to try something new,” said Fuglsang. “And then of course it was also an influence that there was such a long period before Bjarne could present a sponsor. I would have liked to have been in control of that before the Tour began.”
Dane Matti Breschel has confirmed he is leaving Saxo Bank for Rabobank in 2011, while Contador is bringing Spaniards Benjamin Noval, Daniel Navarro and Jesus Hernandez from Astana to the Danish team. Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara is one of the few riders to be staying with the team from 2010 to 2011, but has not expressed enthusiasm about it.
"I still have a contract, so I probably will not switch teams,” he told Radsport. “There are many changes happening at the moment, and officially everything is not yet known.”
Riis has repeatedly stressed that he wants Saxo Bank to be a Danish team despite the Spaniards flowing into the team, but Anders Lund announced Monday that he would be following in the footsteps of Breschel and Fuglsang as another Dane to move on after four years with the team. Kasper Klostergaard and Andre Steensen are among the few Danes remaining past the season’s end.
"I'm really excited to stay with the team for two more years,” said Klostergaard. “It will be interesting to be a part of a process that could lead to a different race schedule for me. Naturally, I hope to be a part of the Classics squad, and of course, I hope to ride great."
"I'm really happy to stay another year in this fantastic team,” said 22-year-old Steesen. “The management is visionary and their expertise allows me to further develop."
Michael Rasmussen is another Dane almost certainly leaving the team, while Riis has managed at least one new Danish signing in response to the many departures. Michael Morkov has signed a two-year contract with Saxo Bank.
“Michael is a rock solid, loyal and powerful rider who has an eye for the importance of team spirit and I'm very happy to have him on the team for another two years,” said Riis. “His tireless commitment throughout the whole year calls for recognition and with his growing potential, I'm considering him in the line-up for the spring classics next year."
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