Tag: Saxo Bank-SunGard

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Paris-Nice Opener

With more than a dash of national-characteristic cliché it’s probably fair to say that it takes a Brit to defy the weather like that seen at the start of yesterday’s Paris-Nice and still post a blistering time. But so it was for Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins who made his start on the opening Time Trial (9.4km, Dampierre-en-Yvelines to Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse) third from last with heavy rain blighting conditions and the seemingly impossible task of catching up on a time of 11’19” set by Sweden’s Gustav Larsson of Vacansoleil-DCM. Finishing just a second behind the Swede, Wiggins took overall second to set himself up nicely for the coming stages.

 

Less fortunate was Team Saxo Bank, who not only saw Juan Jose Haedo replaced due to illness by Anders Lund at the last minute, but then witnessed their Belgian star Nick Nuyens crash out brutally on a descent and slam hip-first into a traffic island. After a check-up in hospital a bruised Nuyens reported: “Luckily, there are no broken bones. But naturally, I’m sore and especially my hip took a hard beating in the crash. My preparations for the Ronde van Vlaandern are only in danger if I’m unable to complete Paris-Nice so I’m really hoping that I’ll be back in the saddle tomorrow…”

 

Paris-Nice continues today with a flat, and hopefully dry, 185.5km run from Mantes-la-Jolie to Orléans.

 

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Riis Support Contador

Despite being handed a two year ban by The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for doping offences dating back to the 2010 TdF, Alberto Contador continues to enjoy the full support of his team, Saxo Bank-SunGard and its owners Riis Cycling. In an official statement the team were at pains to point out that the CAS ruling stated that: ‘…the presence of clenbuterol was unlikely to have been caused by conscious cheating’, clearly enough of grey area for the team to feel he was not to be distanced or ejected.

 

Team owner, Bjarne Riis, has made his position perfectly clear in backing the 29-year-old Spaniard: ‘After having the time to study the ruling we continue to support Alberto Contador based on the CAS verdict. We can only respect the ruling, and this means that Alberto Contador now has to serve a ban. But the conclusion of the ruling is vital for the team, as the ruling focuses on the likely cause being ingestion of a contaminated supplement and at the same time states that this is unlikely to have been a case of conscious cheating…We have asked ourselves many times during this case, could we as a team have done things any differently? I really don’t think we could have done things differently than what we have done trying to support every one of our riders.’

 

Although there has been considerable press rumblings about Contador appealing the CAS ruling it seems unlikely that he would not join, however reluctantly, his team in wishing to see a line drawn under the entire matter. With the official line clearly stating, ‘…Riis Cycling welcomes the fact that the case finally reached a decision… putting an end to this case is something we have been looking forward to’, surely Contador would be ill-advised to continue rocking the boat.

 

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Saxo Bank Rides on Alone

Riis Cycling, who currently ride under the pro name Saxo Bank-SunGard, have announced that their headline sponsor going forward into next season will be Saxo Bank alone, with SunGard, a software and technology services companies, no longer involved. Saxo Bank have been involved with the sponsorship deal with Riis since 2008 – In a joint statement, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen, co-CEOs and founders of the trading and investment specialists said: ‘Saxo Bank was offered an option to become the sole title sponsor of Riis Cycling, which was an offer we could not turn down. From the outset, we have sincerely wanted to support Bjarne Riis and his team and with our continued geographical expansion, the sponsorship also makes good sense commercially. While the decision to continue as full title sponsor is a strategic one, our past collaboration with the team has been fantastic, and we are looking forward to watching Team Saxo Bank race across the streets of the world in 2012.’

 

Commenting on the announcement team owner Bjarne Riis added: ‘Since 2008 Saxo Bank and Riis Cycling have proven to be a great match. I am proud that a truly professional company such as Saxo Bank not only continues to see the commercial benefits in sponsoring our teams, but also shows its commitment and faith in our work by stepping up to become the sole title sponsor. This is evidence of a great partnership, and I’m convinced there are many more gains to be realized from this relationship in the future.’

 

SunGard have made it clear that the decision to drop sponsorship was based entirely in business strategy – From 2012 Riss will operate as ‘Team Saxo Bank Professional Cycling Team.’

 

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Saxo Strengthens Team

Saxo Bank-SunGard continues to re-enforce their team for the upcoming season with two new announcements this week. Firstly the news that Australian Jonathan Cantwell will be stepping up for 2012 – the 29 year old sprinter, who has a respectable string of pro-wins under his wheels, has previously ridden with Fly V Australia and the now defunct Team Pegasus. Commenting on the signing, Saxo Bank’s owner Bjarne Riis says: “Jonathan has won many races in the past four years whilst riding in Australia and the States and has shown he is a winner. I feel he now deserves a shot at the very top level. He is a hard working person and a tough guy, and I believe he can further lift his level. So I see Jonathan as an asset for us in the stage races, when it comes to helping out J.J. Haedo in the sprints, or going for a win himself.” The clearly delighted Cantwell described his signing as, “pretty much a dream come true…”

 

Saxo Bank-SunGard has also confirmed that Ukrainian rider Volodymir Gustov has signed a new deal to remain with them during the coming season. The domestique, whose career highlights include stage wins at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana in 2006, said, “I have had many great experiences with this team over the years, so for me to be able to stay here just makes me very happy. I like the setup, I like working with Bjarne Riis and the staff and simply enjoy the atmosphere here.”

 

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Contador Case Moved. Again…

In June Cyclo reported that the Contador doping hearing had been rescheduled – yet again – from the original pre-Tour de France May date until a now come-and-gone end of June date and then to an August 1 date. Now we hear that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is likely to address issues relating the Spaniard’s alleged illegal use of clenbuterol (similar to the asthma drug salbutamol and gives advantageous aerobic capacity) during the 2010 Tour de France not before November. The decision comes partly as a result of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) asking for more time to compile evidence and “resolve arguments about scientific issues.” A statement on the CAS website reports: “As a consequence of the parties’ request, the hearing which was scheduled for 1, 2 and 3 August 2011 is cancelled and will be rescheduled for new dates, probably in November 2011.”

 

Since testing positive for the banned substance during the 2010 Tour Contador has remained adamant that he accidentally ingested the performance enhancer via contaminated meat. He was initially cleared by The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) before that decision was challenged by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The shadow of doubt continues to hover over the Saxo Bank-SunGard star but the sport as a whole…

 

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And on, and on, and on…

Back in April Cyclo (rather optimistically) reported that it looked like an end could be in sight with regards to the on-going  Alberto Contador doping controversy when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced that it would be reviewing the case and that: “…written proceedings in this matter are likely to be concluded at the end of May and the CAS envisages to hold a hearing in June 2011, which would allow the settlement of the dispute before the end of June 2011.” This would of course have meant that everything would be neatly wrapped up before the start of this year’s Tour de France (July 2) at which the Saxo Bank-SunGard star will be defending his title. Well, no such luck…

 

CAS has now announced that the case involving the taking/accidental ingestion of clenbuterol levelled against the Spaniard will be heard after the Tour; a ridiculous state of affairs that does nothing for the ever-declining image of pro racing. Assuming Contador were to bag another win at the Tour this year (and he looks strong enough to) he could, if the Lausanne-based court finds against him, be stripped of his success, plus his 2010 title and even his recent standing at the Giro d’Italia. In other words a cloud of doubt will hang over more than a year’s worth of results whilst CAS edge painfully slowly towards making any kind of ruling.

 

Contador remains adamant that the traces of clenbuterol – which is similar to the asthma drug salbutamol and gives advantageous  aerobic capacity – found its way into his system via contaminated meat. He was initially cleared by The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) before that decision was challenged by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Cyclo would be bored of this story if it didn’t have such wide-reaching ramifications and weren’t doing quite so much to damage the sport we love.

 

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Two out of three for Contador

Alberto Contador has won the Vuelta de Murcia (Tour of Murcia) in only his second event since being cleared of doping allegations by the Spanish Cycling Federation. The Tour de France champion, riding for Saxo Bank-SunGard, looked strong from the start of the three-day event in Spain, ultimately setting a best overall time of 9hours, 27minutes and 18seconds win wins on both day/stage two and three.

 

By the end of the mountainous day two Contador already looked close to unstoppable combining a powerful attack on the final climb of the day – the Collado Bermejo – with a heart-stopping descent to the finish line with no holding back when it came to risk taking. Whilst day three’s 12.5km time trial stage gave Contador his second win of three days when he posted a time of 14.10 ahead of Jerome Coppel (+ 0.08) and Dennis Menchov (+ 0.12).

 

With Saxo Bank-SunGard winning two out of the three stages and taking overall victory, plus also topping both point and team classifications, Team sports director, Dan Frost, summed up everyone’s sentiments: “The victory is a relief for him and for the team. His presence alone has an outstanding effect on our younger riders…”

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Contador Returns?

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard’s Alberto Contador has announced that he will return to compete in the Giro d’Italia stage race in May. The Spaniard, often cited as the most talented stage and all-round racer of his generation, has described the race in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, as his, “first big goal of the season.”

 

There are, of course, several obstacles to overcome in the meantime. Although Contador was acquitted by The Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) on February 15 after he tested positive for the banned drug Clenbuterol following last year’s Tour de France, either the International Cycling Union (UCI) or the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are still thought likely to appeal the RFEC decision. If they are successful in overturning the verdict Contador will face a ban of up to 2 years and, naturally, the stripping of his 2010 Tour de France title.

 

The Giro d’Italia begins May 7 in Turin with team time trials, finishing 21 days later in Milan with the individual time trials and includes seven mountain stages.