Fabian Cancellara poised to follow teammates to Luxembourg
Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara is reported to have been released from his contract with Danish outfit Saxo Bank, and is now poised to join several of his old teammates at the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project.
According to Belgian daily Gazet van Antwerpen, BMC, Sky and the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project have all showed their interest in signing Cancellara, whose contract with Saxo Bank expires at the end of next season.
As compensation for releasing Cancellara from his contract, Saxo Bank manager Bjarne Riis has demanded €3million from any team who wants Cancellara to join them for 2011.
According to the Belgian newspaper, all three teams were willing to pay the fee, but the time trial world champion has opted to join Danish directeur sportif Kim Andersen in Luxembourg, where several of his old teammates, including Andy and Frank Schleck,
will be racing.
Turned down offer from BMC
BMC manager Andy Rihs has admitted to making a lucrative offer for Cancellara's services. But despite
Cyclingnews' reports of Rihs offering to develop a line of bikes especially for the 29-year-old, the Swiss turned the offer down.
Cancellara, who has ten stage wins on the Grand Tour and two Paris–Roubaix titles to his name, has previously stated his desire to race alongside familiar faces.
"The most important thing is to be with the people I feel comfortable with. I need my mechanic and my soigneur. I need to be in a perfect environment. In joining an environment that I don't know yet, I could lose one year. I thought a lot about it at the
Worlds and this played into my performance."
Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati and Germany's Jens Voigt are among the other riders who have signed for the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project ahead of next season.
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