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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Everyone knew he would attack. Everyone knew he would go for the victory on Alpe d’Huez!

And he did it: Carlos Sastre won the queen stage in this year’s edition of Tour de France - after 210 kilometers from Embrun to the legendary finish at the top of Alpe d’Huez the petite Spanish rider was able to celebrate both the victory and the Yellow Jersey, which he took over from teammate Fränk Schleck, who is now second in the general classification.

The triumph was made even sweeter by the fact that Andy Schleck was third in the stage and increased his lead in the Best Young Rider’s competition considerably.

“What a fantastic team! I’m almost lost for words. They were amazing and both our GC riders and the rest of the guys made an absolutely world class effort out there today,” said a jubilant Bjarne Riis after the stage.

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Spanish rider Carlos Sastre rode the ride of his life on Stage 17 of this year’s Tour de France. Attacking with just 13km to go, the Maillot Jaune group was not able to hang onto the Spaniard and he went on to win the Stage.

Carlos Sastre wins the stage and is also the new overall General Classification leader, taking over for teammate Frank Schleck.

Stage 17 Results
1 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank - 6.07.58
2 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi - 2.03
3 Andy Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank
4 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne - 2.13
5 Fränk Schleck (Lux) CSC-Saxo Bank
6 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
7 Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto
8 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
9 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin Chipotle - H30
10 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner

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Team CSC Saxo Bank’s Fränk Schleck fulfilled a childhood dream of his, when he took the Yellow Jersey on Sunday after the 15th stage of Tour de France!

The Danish team was aggressive from the word go and all team members were used to attack during the last 40 of the 183-kilometer route from Digne-les-Bains to Prato Nevoso.

At the front it quickly became clear to all that a break of four would be impossible to catch and Simon Gerrans (Crédit Agricole) took the victory with four minutes down to the favorite’s group. But behind the break Team CSC Saxo Bank was stepping up the game somewhat.

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On an average mountain stage, the final sprint was won by Kurt-Asle Arvesen by the smallest of margins. Coming into the final kilometer it was a three man charge to the finish line, with Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Martin Elmiger, and Alessandro Ballan. Ballan, who made the move to bridge over from the bigger group of 10, just did not have anything left to contest the sprint. But gave Arvesen and Elmiger a run to the line none the less.

With no GC threats in the breakaway, the peloton finished over 14 minutes behind. Cadel Evans retains the yellow jersey for one more day.

Stage 11 Results
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) CSC-Saxo Bank - 3.58.13
2 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
3 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre
4 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank - 0.01
5 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole - 0.02
6 Pierrick Fédrigo (Fra) Bouygues Telecom - 0.14
7 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Liquigas
8 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
9 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
10 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram
11 Dmitriy Fofonov (Kaz) Crédit Agricole
12 Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis

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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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