Returning to the team where he has enjoyed so much success as a rider, Bobby Julich has been appointed Rider Development Manager at Team Saxo Bank – IT Factory.

In his first position after ending his 16-year-long career as a professional cyclist, Bobby Julich will take on a managing role on the team with technical development, testing and time trial coaching as his main work objectives.

“I am extremely pleased and motivated to take on this new position with Riis Cycling. I knew that my urge to compete at the ProTour level as a rider was over in the middle of the season, but I also realized that I have much more to offer this great team and the sport of cycling. I will be trying to accomplish this objective from the other side of the barriers, but with the same passion and dedication I had during my racing career”, says Julich who will be heading to Denmark at the end of November starting his new role at Team Saxo Bank – IT Factory and Riis Cycling.

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As of 2009, Riis Cycling / Team Saxo Bank and Specialized will embark on a new partnership that will mean a completely new and exiting setup for the team in terms of bikes and shoes. This partnership will see a new legacy in the development of high-end bikes and state of the art materials.

“I am really exited to start this new partnership and I think that we can create great things together with Specialized. We have had a lot of different possibilities in terms of equipment for the coming years, including working together with our existing partners, but we have chosen to embark on a new project and we are ready to take the next step with Specialized. There has been a clear mutual understanding and a good business-fit between the two companies from day one and I am convinced that it will become clear to everyone that these are two highly ambitious organizations that are going to collaborate closely in this deal. I chose Specialized based on our common vision, their excellent bikes and equipment combined with their ability to develop future materials that will help us win. I have taken multiple trips to the Specialized headquarters in the past months to ride their bikes and speak with their engineers and I am hugely impressed with what I have seen”, says Bjarne Riis.

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COPENHAGEN Riis Cycling (RC) and Saxo Bank, the leading online investment bank, have signed an agreement that will let Saxo Bank become a co-sponsor of Team CSC together with CSC. The agreement becomes effective immediately, which means that team CSC will appear as Team CSC/Saxo Bank at the upcoming Tour De France.

The agreement runs to the end of this year, and on January 1st 2009 Saxo Bank becomes the sole main sponsor of the team that, from then on, will be known as team Saxo Bank. The duration term of the contract is three years.

“With Saxobank, we have found the perfect partner for the future. We are extremely proud to become associated with such a strong brand and a company that has a great passion for our team and our values. It has been a pleasure closing a deal with such dedicated and professional people as Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen. From day one, we have found a great understanding and this promises to become a first class collaboration for the years to come”, says Bjarne Riis.

Signing the agreement with RC, Saxo Bank’s founders and joint CEOs, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen pointed out that this is an opportunity they have been waiting for for a long time. “For a global bank like ours, this is the perfect match and when it became possible, we just could not let this chance pass by” they said in a joint statement. “Team CSC/Saxo Bank has the international reach and name recognition that means that we will be able to get our message out to most of our clients group around the globe. We love the sport, we trust Bjarne Riis, and believe that together we will be winners.”

“At the same time, I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to our main sponsor CSC for their passionate and consistent support,” Riis said. “They have made it possible for us to become the best team in the world. We have achieved fantastic results thanks to their dedication. The level and the quality of this partnership is what we want to continue with Saxo Bank as our new sponsor.”

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Team CSC’s current main sponsor, the Information Technology company CSC, is leaving professional cycling when its contract expires at the end of this year. CSC indicated the decision reflects a shift in priorities as the company makes new investments to implement a strategic long-term growth plan.

“Our involvement in the sport of cycling has been a positive and productive experience,” said Henrik Bo Pedersen, the CSC executive responsible for overseeing the sponsorship. “We will continue to support the Team and exercise our sponsorship rights during the 2008 race season. At the same time, we are committed to helping the team secure a new title sponsor.

“Our company and employees have enjoyed our relationship with the riders, staff and management of Team CSC,” said Pedersen. “We especially wish to thank each member of Riis Cycling for their dedication and commitment to making professional cycling a healthy and safe sport.”

“We have had a long and excellent collaboration with CSC and when it comes to an end after this season we can look back upon eight years that have been very fruitful for both partners. CSC has made it possible for us to reach the highest heights in professional cycling and at the same time we have inspired their 91,000 employees and helped them to develop their client relationships in a very unique way. We’re very proud of all we’ve done together in the past and look forward to sharing a lot of great experiences with CSC this season”, says Bjarne Riis.

“This marks the beginning of something new for us and I know that we are ready to go out and show the world that we are here to stay. We have an exceptional product with worldwide exposure that we can offer to a new sponsor. We believe we have the best team in the world, both the riders on their bikes and the staff supporting them behind the scenes. Over the years, this exceptional group of people have proven that they know how to deliver value to their sponsors. I’m optimistic about the future, even though cycling has its challenges. We have a team that is a ready to lead the way and an organisation that is up for the task at hand”, Bjarne Riis adds.