After a rough start to the year, Saxo Bank's Olympic Time-Trial Champion Fabian Cancellara hopes to shake off his bad luck this year with a win in next weekend's Giro d'Italia prologue.
The Swiss rider missed much of the early season, but has been building his form since his re-appearance in the cobbled classics. While he didn't have the form to contend in the early season, the two-time world time-trial champion will have a chance to score in Venice.
While Cancellara will be heading to celebrated 100th anniversary of Italy's Grand Tour, Dane Nicki Sörensen has been taken off the start list. Saxo Bank boss Bjarne Riis said, "We want Nicki to ride in the Tour de France. Nicki has in the recent period convinced us that he should be included in the Tour de France-troupe, and of course it would be natural for him to take a break now and skip the Giro. He has been racing on a high level during the spring, and later through the Ardennes classics he has really impressed with big strength and experience. He will undoubtedly be a huge win in Tour de France in both the team time trial where he has always been among the best and in the mountains, which are his primary strengths. I am convinced that he will be just the right rider bring in order to make the team complete", says Bjarne Riis.
His compatriot Kasper Klostergaard will fill the open slot. Jurgen Van Goolen has also made the list.
"I'm really glad that there's a place for me on the team for the Tour and I intend to repay the confidence by being in peak shape when the race begins. This year I have noticed that I have taken a great leap forward, and I am really in place to make a major effort in the Tour", said a delighted Nicki Sørensen.
Riis will also leave general classification riders Andy and Frank Schleck to focus on the Tour de France in July.
Team Saxo Bank for the 100th Giro d'Italia:
Lars Bak (Den), Fabian Cancellara (SWI), Juan Jose Haedo (Arg), Matthew Goss (Aus), Kasper Klostergaard (Den), Anders Lund (Den), Jason McCartney (VST), Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Jens Voigt (Ger)