Riis on Schleck's chances and transfer rumours
Saxo Bank's team manager Bjarne Riis has said that Frank Schleck could still win this year's Vuelta a Espana, and that Fabian Cancellara would remain with the team despite transfer rumours placing him elsewhere next season.
Schleck, 30, has two Grand Tour stage wins to his name, both of which came in the Tour de France. Ahead of this year's Vuelta, he stated his ambition to challenge for the overall victory in his last Grand Tour for Saxo Bank.
Riis' comments came ahead of the tenth stage of the last Grand Tour of the season. “It's not that hard. If Frank announced that he will win the Vuelta, then he will have to attack,” Riis said to sporten.dk about Schleck's chances. There is no reason to give up. The rankings can change quickly when it is only a couple of minutes. There are still many difficult mountains to come." The Luxembourgian is in 13th place in the general classification after Sunday's Stage 9.
Riis: Cancellara is staying despite shakeup
Riis' Danish Saxo Bank outfit has been subject to speculation in the press surrounding its roster for next year. While the team has secured the services of three-time Tour winner Alberto Contador for next season, several riders, including Schleck and his younger brother Andy, will leave at the end of this season.
But Riis claimed others are bound to join. "I will not elaborate on who I am looking at or how many riders there are," he said about his new team, which will race under the name Saxo Bank-Sunguard. He added that the team will have a roster of 18 riders for 2011, with new signing David Tanner from team Fly V Australia being one of them.
Despite Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara being placed with several other teams for the upcoming season in the press, Riis suggested his time-trialist is staying put. “Fabian Cancellara has a contract for 2011,” he said, contradicting Cancellara's recent claim that he is considering various options for next year.
Tags: