Speculation in the Danish media is growing that Team Saxo Bank owner Bjarne Riis might announce a new sponsor at a press conference called today by the team.
The 1996 Tour de France winner has been battling lately to find a replacement for the title sponsor, which decided to end its association a year earlier than expected. Riis has been under pressure as his marquee riders have been rumoured to be heading elsewhere; stories in the media this week have suggested that Frank and Andy Schleck are almost certain to move to a new Luxembourg team managed by former Saxo Bank PR manager Brian Nygaard.
Current Saxo Bank directeur sportif Kim Andersen has been confirmed as changing his allegiance, and was reportedly fired in recent days by Riis.
The Schleck brothers have played down the news, saying that the new team is one of four options. Another would be to stay with Riis, but this would be dependant on a new sponsor being secured and a satisfactory financial package being agreed.
According to Feltet.dk, the team’s press conference today could well see some news on this matter. It suggests three potential names for the new team; the first is the much-rumoured metamorphasis of the squad into Team Sungard, with the current co-sponsor coming in at a much bigger level for 2011.
The other possibilities are that the team could be backed by GN NetCom, one of the world’s biggest headset manufacturers. One scenario would see the team being named after this company, while another would see the title become Team Jabra, after one of its wireless headsets.
Riis has not confirmed that a new backer will be announced, but what is certain is that if nothing is arranged at this point, it will be very difficult for him to hold onto his top riders for next season. Fabian Cancellara is rumoured to be considering a move to BMC Racing, while Matti Breschel and Jakob Fuglsang have said that they wish to stay, but need to know that a new sponsor has been found and that they will be given satisfactory offers.
Fuglsang reported wants to be one of the appointed team leaders, thus reflecting his ambition to build on results such as third in the recent Tour de Suisse, and victories in the 2008 and 2009 Tour of Denmark.
Officially, Riis has said that he is focussed on ensuring that the squad is a unified one and works well together to try to win this Tour de France.
“We do not participate in hysteria. That is not why we are here,” he said, according to Feltet.dk. “It is quiet, we must be professional and we are here to solve a problem. We're motivated. And we are ready to compete, we are ready for the task. And we stand together.”
He said that he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting he had this week with his key riders.
The team’s best Tour de France came in 2008 when Frank Schleck led the race for two days, then Carlos Sastre took over with a victorious ride on Alpe d’Huez. He went on to win the race overall, while Schleck was fifth. Kurt Asle Arvesen also won a stage and the squad won the team prize.
Last year Fabian Cancellara won the opening time trial and held yellow for six stages. Andy Schleck was second overall, with Frank Schleck netting fifth.