• Cycling

Contador replaces rival Schleck at Saxo Bank

ESPN staff
August 3, 2010
Alberto Contador won his third Tour de France this year © Getty Images
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Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has joined Danish team Riis Cycling on a two-year deal.

The three-time champion was known to be leaving Kazakh team Astana after rejecting an ultimatum last week, and team owner Bjarne Riis unveiled the Spaniard at a press-conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

Contador replaces rival Andy Schleck and his brother Frank at the Sungard-Saxo Bank team, after the pair announced last week that they would be leaving the team at the end of the year.

"I am looking forward to the new challenge of working and cooperating with Alberto Contador," Riis said. "I am looking forward to polishing him, thereby making him an even more beautiful and sparkling diamond. I believe that we have yet to see his full potential and that he will sparkle even more on Team Sungard-Saxo Bank than he has done while riding for Team Astana."

Contador, who won the Tour in 2007 and 2009 before winning his third title this year, also has victories in the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana from 2008, and now has his sights set on winning all three titles in a single season.

"I'm very happy and excited about signing a two-year contract with Riis Cycling," Contador said. "Historically, Riis Cycling has always been successful and together, we will have the ability to play a very important role in the world of cycling in the years to come."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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