Saxo Bank team owner, Bjarne Riis is proud of the new coaches and sports directors that he has assembled for next year.
"I'm proud of the team," Riis told Denmark's BT newspaper. "They are all passionate about this stuff, and things are coming together well for us."
Former sports directors, Kim Andersen and Torsten Schmidt led an exodus this year. They took eight riders – including Fabian Cancellara and Andy and Frank Schleck – to Luxembourg's new team.
Riis had to fill the gap left. He brought in three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who shortly after signing for the team found himself at the center of a doping investigation, and classics rider Nick Nuyens. He hired two of his former riders as sports directors, Tristan Hoffman and Fabrizio Guidi. And yesterday, he confirmed new coaches: Danish Psychologist Erik Østenkjær and Italian Giuseppe Toni.
Toni or 'Pino' lives near where many of Riis riders are based, in Lucca, Italy.
"Each day, the riders take their box from the bike, sending their data to Pino to analyse the results," said Riis. "We're not control freaks, and ultimately it is up to the riders themselves to train as they should, but now we have a good handle on what they do and can optimise their workout, preventing them from over-training."
Toni worked with several smaller teams in the past, but this will be his first time to work with a first division team.
"The first and best," said Toni. "I know Bjarne well and I am honoured to be allowed to work for and with him. My dream has come true."
Riis explained that Erik Østenkjær will be called in when he is needed.
"He will help to analyse the entire organization; riders, managers, mechanics, office workers – everyone. So we are always at the forefront," said Riis.
"Erik can also help with mental training. We have created a system where riders anonymously report back after a race, describing what they are satisfied and dissatisfied with, or if they have personal problems. Some riders would not dare say such things directly to the owner."
Hoffman and Guidi join McGee and Dan Frost as Riis' sports directors.
"We have divided it up so that every sports director has a group of riders that he follows and has personal contact with. It's easier to plan and know the rider's true condition, when the rider, coach and sports director are always in close contact."
Contador's future is in doubt after results revealed he failed a doping test for Clenbuterol at the Tour de France this year. The Spanish federation is expected to rule on the case by mid-January and may issue Contador a two-year ban. In the meantime, he attended the Saxo Bank training camp with Porte in Fuerteventura, Spain, last month.
Without Contador, Riis is likely to rely on Aussie Richie Porte and Chris Anker Sørensen as the team's classification leaders.