Danish team reaping the benefits of new partnership with Anfi Group; Alberto Contador unavailable on media day
The Saxo Bank team will be departing for Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, on Thursday, January 5th, for its first training camp of the New Year. The Danish team will be staying at the luxurious Amfi Emerald Club resort, thanks to its new partnership with the Anfi Group.
"The new season is approaching fast so this camp is all about building the foundation, training wise, and preparing for the upcoming races,” said team owner Bjarne Riis. “That's why this camp is so important for the team, and that's why I'm thrilled to have partnered with Anfi.
“Because of this deal we stay at a world class resort,” he explained. “We have fantastic cycling routes and surroundings and last but not least, the weather is perfect for training.”
Clearly also very happy with the new relationship, José Luis Trujillo, the CEO of the Anfi Group, is looking forward to welcoming Riis’ team to the island resort.
“We are all ready to welcome Team Saxo Bank to Gran Canaria and we're determined to ensure that their training gets off to the best possible start,” he said. “We have worked hard to make sure that everything is perfect for the riders.
"We are very excited to host one of the best cycling teams in the world,” he continued. “For the Anfi Group, this new promotional campaign represents our ongoing commitment to sports sponsorship and will allow us to promote the Anfi brand to an international market.”
As usual the team will host a ‘media day’ during its camp, where it will hold a press conference and allow members of the press access to riders, management and staff.
With the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) verdict still pending on the appeals from both the International Cycling Union (UCI) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) into Alberto Contador’s acquittal for a positive clenbuterol test during the 2010 Tour de France still outstanding though, the team has announced that the Spanish rider will not be available.