Bjarne Riis once employed Bryan Nygaard as a press officer at team Saxo Bank/CSC, but now the two Danes will go head to head as team managers. Nygaard confirmed yesterday that he is starting a new Luxembourg team for 2011 and fuelled speculation that Fränk and Andy Schleck may leave Saxo Bank to join their home team.
"The economic foundation for the team," said Nygaard in a press release, "is in place."
Nygaard abruptly left his post as team Sky's press officer following the Giro d'Italia. He joined the team after working with Riis for many years, including when the team won the 2008 Tour de France with Carlos Sastre and when Riis admitted EPO use.
Kim Andersen left Riis as well in the last week. The two fell out when Riis discovered he was planning to join the Luxembourg team as sports director for 2011.
"Now, I have hired Kim Andersen as senior sports director," continued Nygaard, "the sports management is also as strong as it can be."
Nygaard hopes to announce the sponsor soon, but is unable to announce any riders until September 1, according to UCI rules. Clearly, the Luxembourg team will be interested in the country's top cyclists – the Schleck brothers.
The two are free to leave Riis at the end of this season and Riis currently cannot offer contract renewals because he lacks a co-sponsor. American company SunGard reportedly is interested in stepping up from co-sponsor to title sponsor.
With both Riis and Nygaard after the Schleck's, a Danish war could erupt this summer.
"It should help raise Danish cycling in general, because from 2011, there will be two Danes heading cycling teams," Nygaard told Politiken.dk.
Andersen was more to the point, saying in a press release, "Our ambition is to reach deals with some of the world's best riders because we are very determined to create a team that is at the very top of the cycling sport."
Jakob Fuglsang is also interested in leaving Saxo Bank and he has yet to sign a renewal contract offered by Riis.