Dane Matti Breschel rejected a contract offer for next year from Andy Schleck's Luxembourg team. He explained he lacked patience for the new project, preferring to join Rabobank.
"We chatted briefly together. I have a good relationship with Kim Andersen and I am good friends with Andy Schleck, so it was natural that they would like me in the team," Breschel told DIF Sporting Life magazine.
"I am also convinced that they will make a big team, but I did not want to be part of it because it will take time for them to establish themselves in the sport. I do not have patience to lose more races because of problems that I can not do anything about."
Breschel selected another path instead of following his eight Saxo Bank team-mates – including Fabian Cancellara and Andy Schleck – to Luxembourg. He went Dutch, joining the Netherlands' long-running team, Rabobank.
Rabobank will allow Breschel to lead at the one-day spring classics. He is currently recovering from the knee surgery he had on November 23.
This spring, Breschel won Dwars door Vlaanderen, finished eighth in Gent-Wevelgem and helped Saxo Bank team-mate Cancellara win the E3 Prijs and Ronde van Vlaanderen. Ronde was a disaster, though, for Breschel. He trailed behind the leaders due to a poorly executed bike change in the final.
Breschel and Cancellara announced they will part ways this year. Breschel said in August, after the Tour de France that he will join Rabobank next year. He forms part of the classics team with Dutchmen Lars Boom and Sebastian Langeveld, and Spaniard Carlos Barredo.
With Breschel, Riis loses 11 riders in total at the end of this year. Frank and Andy Schleck, Fabian Cancellara, Jens Voigt, Stuart O'Grady, Alex Rasmussen, Jakob Fuglsang, Anders Lund – eight riders – are leaving for Luxembourg.
"I feel sorry for Bjarne, but we must also reverse the question and ask why they are leaving the team. Is it coincidence that so many are skipping out or has there been a bad atmosphere?" said Breschel.
"There have been times in which we felt that it [the team] has trailed a little bit behind in planning and communication, and I do not think Bjarne has done enough about it. And it is obviously also a question of economics."
Breschel signed a contract with Rabobank reportedly valued at €540,000.