Team-mates join Contador in Denmark
Every cycling champion is dependent on his team-mates, and three-time Tour de France-winner Alberto Contador is no different.
After it was announced on Tuesday that the Spaniard would join Danish manager Bjaarne Riis' Team Saxo Bank-SunGard for 2011, Contador has had a personal say in which riders he would like to join him in the Danish team.
Speaking to the press ahead of Tuesday evening's criterium in Castillon-la-Bataille, which Contador went on to win, the 27-year-old admitted that he would like several of his Spanish Astana teammates to continue to support him next season.
“There will be lots of very good riders in my next team," he said before the criterium.
But Riis, keen to get the very best out of Contador, has allowed the 2010 Tour-winner to handpick several riders who are now in the process of joining the new Danish formation.
"I’ve been asked who I would like to come with me. Nothing has been decided but my wish would be for [Benjamin] Noval, [Jesus] Hernandez and [Daniel] Navarro to join me,” Contador added.
Navarro and Noval Set to Join
Out of Contador's three former team-mates, two are already on the verge of signing with Team Saxo Bank-SunGard. Navarro has already admitted to being in negotiations with the team.
“Will I be racing with Alberto again next season? It’s almost certain that I will be," Navarro said, also in Castillon-la-Bataille. He is expected to complete the deal over the next few days.
During the Tour last month, it was Navarro's strong climbing form that helped Contador edge on top of his rival Andy Schleck, who recently departed from Riis' Team Saxo Bank to sign for a new Luxembourgian team.
According to a local Spanish paper, Noval has already inked a two-year deal with the team.
It remains to be seen whether Hernandez, who partnered Contador at Team Liberty Seguros before joining Team Astana in 2009, will also move to the Danish team.
What is clear, however, is that Team Astana's Italian rider Paolo Tiralongo will not leave his current team, as his contract extends through 2011.
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