Michaelson finishes up with Saxo Bank

by Conal Andrews at 5:36 PM EST

After two and a half years working with the CSC and Saxo Bank teams as a directeur sportif, Lars Michaelson’s time with the Danish squad has come to an end.

The team announced today that his collaboration will finish when his contract expires at the end of the year.

"As a rider and sports director, Lars has always been the guarantor of meticulous preparation, a high degree of loyalty to his riders and an irresistible desire to go for the victory. We are sorry to have to say goodbye to Lars, but we wish him good luck and success in the future ", says team owner Bjarne Riis.

The team lost a co-sponsor last year when the IT Factory company collapsed. It hasn’t been able to secure a backer of the same scale and financially things are tight. It shed eight riders earlier this autumn.

It is not known if the team will sign another sports director or make do with the numbers it has.

Michaelson had a fourteen year pro career, competing in the top ranks between 1994 and 2007. During that time he won Paris-Bourges, Gent Wevelgem and a stage in the Vuelta a España, and finished fifth twice in Paris-Roubaix. He rode the race eleven times, helping Stuart O’Grady to victory during his last participation.

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