Stage 1 Results
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank - 0:05:20
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - 0:00:09
3 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Slipstream - 0:00:12
4 Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil - 0:00:14
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:16
6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:00:17
7 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:00:18
8 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
9 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
10 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas - 0:00:19

General classification after stage 1
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Saxo Bank - 0:05:20
2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - 0:00:09
3 Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Slipstream - 0:00:12
4 Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil - 0:00:14
5 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas - 0:00:16
6 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas - 0:00:17
7 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana - 0:00:18
8 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas
9 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne
10 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas - 0:00:19

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Nicki Sorensen won the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday by breaking away and finishing well ahead of Laurent Lefevre, and Rinaldo Nocentini of Italy kept the yellow jersey.

Sorensen was part of a small group of seven riders that finished several minutes ahead of the main pack after foraging ahead unchallenged during the 211.5-kilometer (131.4-mile) trek from Tonnerre to Vittel, which featured six small hills.

Stage 12 Results
1 Nicki Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank - 4:52:24
2 Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBOX Bouygues Telecom - 0:00:48
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
4 Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram
5 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
6 Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Agritubel
7 Rémi Pauriol (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne - 0:01:33
8 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia - HTC - 0:05:58
9 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
10 Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre - NGC

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Team Saxo Bank’s Swiss tempo specialist, Fabian Cancellara, put all competitors behind him on today’s first stage of the Tour de France where Alberto Contador was dropped by 18 seconds on the 15.5 kilometer long course in the streets of Monaco. In the intermediate, on top of today’s category 4 climb the Swiss road race champion was several seconds behind Alberto Contador, but on descent and on the flat road to the finish line the man from Berne clearly demonstrated who is the king of the race against the clock.

The team’s hope for the GC, Andy Schleck, also did a good time trial and lost only one minute to his team mate which made him 18th on the stage.

“It was a fantastic victory and I am immensely happy to be wearing the yellow jersey after the initial time trial for the third time in my Tour de France history. I was aware that being the favorite to win heavu expectations were on my shoulders but I work well under pressure. I had a perfect charging prior to the race, the team has given me the necessary peace, and today was just about doing what I do best. I am obviously looking very much forward to starting in the leader’s jersey tomorrow”, said a delighted Fabian Cancellara after his supreme victory.

And team owner Bjarne Riis, was entirely satisfied with his team after the sublime opening of the course:

“Fabian has once again shown his amazing abilities in time trialing. We opened the Tour de France with a big bang and nobody can seriously doubt that we have had a dream start in this year’s edition of the season’s major objective”, said a happy Bjarne Riis after watching his rider winning the first showdown in the 96th edition of the Tour de France.

Team Saxo Bank’s significant machine of speed, Fabian Cancellara, had an important task today in his hometown of Bern where he with a solid performance on the trial time would be able to win Tour de Suisse.

And Fabian Cancellara made more than just a solid performance. Through the streets of Bern he was cheered on by his countrymen with the Swiss flag on his back marking the fact that he is the national champion in the fight against the clock, he crushed any hope for the other riders in the GC.

The worst competitors were absolutely powerless compared to the strong Swiss who flew through the undulating 39 kilometres in 46 minutes and 1 second and crossing the finish line he celebrated the victory of both today’s stage and the overall standings.

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After the most successful year ever for the team Bjarne Riis is looking forward to the new season with ambitions that are sky-high.

When most of Team Saxo Bank’s riders pull on their new cycling clothes and embark on a ten-day training camp on Mallorca and the rest of the team does the same in Australia it marks a brand new and exciting season for the Danish team. Expectations are high especially from team owner Bjarne Riis.

”Of course we need to be realistic and respect the fact that the other teams have a lot to offer as well, but I believe we have a great season ahead of us. And I wouldn’t be surprised if we start winning races already from the beginning,” says Bjarne Riis referring to the initial reports he’s received from the riders all over the world regarding their pre-season training and to his own expectations for the 2009 season.

”Our guys are really working hard at the moment and it seems like they want to start the season with a bang. Last year we kicked off with a bang as well so if the riders have cranked up their training efforts even further over the winter it can only mean a great start to 2009. I get the feeling that we’re all determined to prove that we have no intentions of turning down our ambitions because of the bad news regarding IT-Factory. On the contrary – we have a lot to live up to after this year but when I consider the riders on our team there’s no reason what so ever why we shouldn’t be able to do it again – and maybe even better. Obviously we’re in the middle of a major generational change but I can easily imagine some of the young riders competing for victories here and there. And with riders like Fabian, Jens and JJ we should be able to grab some victories already before the Classics,” continues Riis.

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World-Class, Accomplished Teams to Compete in February 14-22 Stage Race

‘Best Field Ever to Compete on U.S. Soil Anticipated For Nine Day Stage Race’

LOS ANGELES, CA – The 2009 Amgen Tour of California will once again bring together a world-class field of cycling teams from multiple nations, including eight of the sport’s top-rated ProTour teams. Race organizers confirmed today that entries for the fourth annual race will include Lance Armstrong and the Amgen Tour of California’s two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer’s team, Astana, along with two of the top U.S.-based teams, Garmin-Slipstream (new to the ProTour circuit) and Columbia Highroad (formerly Team High Road). Also racing will be Team Saxo Bank, which finished in the top-three of the world rankings last season and Quick Step, which claimed 55 victories in the 2008 season.

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following eight ProTour professional cycling teams:

• Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)
• Astana (LUX)
• Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
• Liquigas (ITA)
• Quick Step (BEL)
• Rabobank (Netherlands)
• Columbia Highroad (USA)
• Team Saxo Bank (DEN)

The recently expanded 750-mile, nine-day stage race, considered to be the most important and popular race held on U.S. soil, will take the world’s top professional cycling teams from Sacramento to San Diego County from February 14-22, 2009.

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Based on the evidence and further investigations made by the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency it was decided not to open a disciplinary case against Fränk Schleck and the agency has decided to close the case.

“First of all, I’m happy that I had to chance to prove that I was innocent. I have a lot of respect for the work the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency had to do and I have been totally available for all their inquiries. Throughout the whole process I have been confident that I would come out good because I have a completely clear conscience. Now, I can focus on the new season and I’m looking forward to coming back strong”, says Fränk Schleck.

“We are certainly very happy that the explanation that Fränk Schleck has given us, the press and our sponsors was now confirmed by the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency as true. It was vital to us that Fränk had not been involved in the wrongdoings concerning the case in Spain and we feel that the confidence that we have in Fränk has been rewarded. I’m sure that this has been quite a stressful time for him, but at the same time it will give him strength and motivation to be even better next season”, says Bjarne Riis and states that the team will continue to do its utmost in the fight against doping.

“All of our riders are ambassadors of a clean sport and with our groundbreaking, independent anti-doping program we can rule out any wrongdoing going on unnoticed and we take sincere comfort in that. The team has gone to great lengths in the fight against doping and we will continue to make our mark here along with our efforts on the roads”, adds Riis.

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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