Stage 7 Results
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank - 0:36:41
2 David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Slipstream - 0:00:32
3 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Columbia-HTC - 0:00:36
4 David Herrero (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia - 0:00:40
5 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d’Epargne - 0:00:46
6 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi - 0:00:47
7 Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin-Slipstream - 0:00:50
8 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale - 0:00:53
9 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank - 0:00:59
10 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto - 0:01:02

General classification after stage 7
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank - 24:58:12
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - 0:00:51
3 David Herrero (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia - 0:00:59
4 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas - 0:01:03
5 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d’Epargne - 0:01:08
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto - 0:01:12
7 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne - 0:01:14
8 Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin-Slipstream - 0:01:19
9 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi - 0:01:20
10 David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Slipstream

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Team Saxo Bank is pleased to reveal that 23 year-old Jonas Aaen Jørgensen has signed a two-year contract with Team Saxo Bank. In January, Jonas made a huge impression on the management of the Danish team during a training camp that he is been of great interest throughout the year.

Jonas now separates from the Danish Team Capinordic where he has shown himself to be a loyal team rider to be relied on. He is a very capable sprinter with three UCI-victories on his resume this year alone. In 2006 he was sixth at the World Championship for riders under 23.

”We have had our eyes on Jonas for quite some time now and he definitely deserves the chance on Team Saxo Bank. I believe that Jonas has a great talent and on Team Saxo Bank he is given the right circumstances to develop his big potential”, says team owner Bjarne Riis about his new rider.

“It’s a dream come true for me to be a part of Team Saxo Bank and I did not actually believe it until I finally signed the contract.
I am looking so much forward to becoming a part of the team and to be participating in the bigger races. We have not talked about my role on the team yet, but I hope to be able to do a ProTour race or two in the coming years”.

Photo courtesy of CorVos

As expected, Saxo Bank took to the hills today to hopefully deliver their GC hopeful Andy Schleck into a podium spot and ride they did. Frank Schleck paced his younger brother, Andy Schleck, up the final climbs shedding all other contenders. With only Alberto Contador able to hang with the pace, the elder Schleck took the stage win and with that put the two Schleck brothers in second and third respectively.

Stage 17 Results
1 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank - 4:53:54
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
4 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0:02:18
5 Lance Armstrong (USA) Astana
6 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana 0:02:27
7 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin - Slipstream - 0:03:07
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Agritubel - 0:04:09
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Slipstream
10 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne - 0:06:10

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A bad crash during training yesterday meant a trip to the hospital and now a shorter break from racing for Team Saxo Bank’s Fränk Schleck.

The rider from Luxembourg skidded with his front wheels during a training ride and crashed in a curve going downhill. Seven stitches on the chin and a heavy contusion on his left wrist was the immediate damage, but further examinations were needed yesterday afternoon at a clinic in Luxembourg to rule out any fractures.

“I had to have further examinations yesterday to be sure that nothing was broken. My chin is stitched up and my wrist has a big swelling, but I guess I should consider myself lucky that nothing is broken. This doesn’t come at a convenient time, since I’m in really good shape after Paris-Nice and I hope to get back into racing as soon as possible”, says Fränk Schleck who is now set to race the next time in Criterium International at the end of March.

“We need Fränk to be back racing as soon as possible and since nothing is broken we had the possibility to send him to do the cobblestone races in Belgium next week, but since these races are demanding on the whole body, it’s better to wait and then have him come back 100% fit in the race in France where we should have a good possibility to make some results with him and Jens Voigt”, says sports director Kim Andersen.

Photo courtesy of Ken Conley

Team Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara will not defend his victory in Milano-Sanremo, but instead focus on his preparation to Northern European classics and the races ahead by doing the stage race, Settimana Internazionele di Coppi e Bartali next week in Italy.

“I regret not being able to do Milano-Sanremo which for obvious reasons is a race that has a special place in my heart, but I need to be realistic. It’s the best decision based on the form I have right now and more importantly, for family reasons, I wasn’t able to do the race on Saturday either way. I want to stay focussed and since I had to exit Tirreno-Adriatico, I need to get more stability and I can only get that from racing and continue my work. I look forward to be gaining more form in the Italian stage race and hopefully, that will help me get some progress and form”, says Cancellara who will be part of Team Saxo Bank for the 5-day race starting in Riccione on March 24.

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Bobby Julich to end his 15-year long professional career at Team CSC Saxo Bank.

The 36-year old American rider has been with the team since 2004 is now retiring and looking ahead to a possible future within the sport.

“I have had a long career as a professional cyclist and it has been an honour to be part of a team like Team CSC Saxo Bank for the last five years. I remember the day after meeting my team and team mates for the first time, making a phone call to my wife telling her that this is the team that I have been searching for my whole career and where I would end my career. Years later, that turned out to be quite a prophetic statement because now is time to make that decision and move on to the next phase of my life”, says Bobby Julich who saw a new part of his career unfold when he came to the team in 2004.

With an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2004, a strong winning streak in 2005 (including Paris-Nice, Criterium International, Eneco Tour), Julich completely revitalized the latter part of his professional career that previously had shown a podium finish in the Tour and consistent results in the biggest races on the calendar.

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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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Team CSC Saxo Bank has extended the contract with 23-year old Anders Lund. The Danish talent began his career as a professional rider with the team the year before last and has now had his contract extended for another year.

”Anders still has great potential and we’d like to keep him around and help him evolve. He’s still got his first pro victory ahead of him, but I know he’s a major talent, who can go far – so it’s only a matter of time. He managed to get through a tough Giro d’Italia fine this year and I think it has helped toughen him up and also provided him with important experience and these two things in combination might help him on his way to achieving the results his talent warrants,” says Bjarne Riis.

”I’m really happy to have my contract extended and I look forward to improving my game even further in order to achieve some great results. I’ve been through an important learning process and I’m extremely motivated to live up to the faith the team has shown in me by extending my contract. Now I’ll have to concentrate on getting better and I know I’ve got the best possible conditions to do so right here,” says Anders Lund.

Photo courtesy of CorVos

Carlos Sastre came in twelth today, two minutes and thirty found seconds behind stage winner Stefan Schumacher, to seal up his Tour de France victory. Sastre was able to hold off his top rivals to stay a minute and five seconds ahead of Cadel Evans in the General Classification.

For Stefan Schumacher, he wins his second TT this tour, besting world champion Fabian Cancellara by 21 seconds.

Stage 20 Results
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 1.03.50
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - Saxo Bank - 0.21
3 Kim Kirchen (Lux) Team Columbia - 1.01
4 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 1.05
5 David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Chipotle p/b H30 - 1.37
6 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank - 1.55
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence - Lotto - 2.05
8 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 2.19
9 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner - 2.21
10 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - 2.28

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This Friday the double time trial World Champ Fabian Cancellara has extended his contract with the Danish cycling team, Team CSC Saxo Bank for another three seasons until 2011.

“It means a lot to me that my future is secure with Team CSC Saxo Bank. This is where I belong and where I can reach my potential in the best possible way. When I reflect on the way I’ve evolved since joining the team and the things I’ve been through and everything the team and Bjarne have done for me, I’m totally convinced that I can be even better yet. Now I have the perfect horizon in relation to my career and I look forward to the next three years with my teammates and the results we’re going to achieve together,” says Fabian Cancellara.

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