Riis looks forward to beating new RadioShack/Leopard team
Riders claim to have known nothing beforehand
Bjarne Riis of 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Saxo Bank-Sungard has professed himself to be “surprised” at the actions of teams Leopard Trek and RadioShack. The two teams announced on Monday evening that Ra🦩dioShack will take over sp♎onsorship of Leopard Trek, with the team to be called Ra🧔dioShack-Ni💫ssan-Trek next year.
"Like most people, I am surprised by the merger," Riis told sporten.tv2.dk. "But they must have their reasons﷽, but I don't know what they are."
RadioShack-Nis♑san-Trek will feature this year's second and third-placed Tour de France finishers, Andy and Fränk Schleck, as well as two-time Tour runner-up Andreas Klöden. Riis however does not believe that the team will be able to challenge Alberto Contador next year, and was looking forward to the coming season.
"It wi🌄ll be fun to beat them. That's how I see it. I still have the best man."
A number of riders on the Leopard Trek team🦋 init🐓ially came from SaxoBank and with the merger of the two teams leaving some riders looking for contracts Riis did not rule out the possibility of re-hiring some of his old riders and staff.
Team members' reactions
The situation is somewhat confusing, however, as a number of riders affirmed that they have two-year deals and do not intend to move. Like many others, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Joost Posthuma o🌺f Leopard Trek learned of the actions through t🧜he initial press release and having had no communication from the team is still in the dark on what his future may be.
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"I know nothing, the only thing I know for sure is that I'm signed through 2012 with Leopard Trekꦇ," he said on his website. “I expect to ride with this team next year. For the rest I stand with my back against the wall and I can onlꦬy wait."
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Tom Stamsnijder found himself in a similar position. "Yes, I'm worried, but I assume my contract will be fulfilled," he told De Telegraaf.
"Only two or three people know what happened. I only learned it all through the media," directeur sportif Thorsten Schmidt told the dpa news agency. "Right now it is totally 🐲uncoordinated. Personally, I have several offers to consider, but I assume that my contract is still in effect."