Contador replaces Schleck at Saxo Bank.

Alberto Contador will ride for team Saxo Bank-Sungard under Bjarne Riis next season after it was announced that the three-time Tour de France champion will join him in a two-year contract replacing his closest rival Andy Schleck.

“Alberto (Contador) is a world class rider and it’s with great pride that I can welcome him onboard the team for the next two years,” Riis said in a statement. “With three Tour de France victories on his resume and a position as number one on the world rankings, he is sure to stay at the very top for several years to come.”
Riis also announced that current sponsor, Saxo Bank, has decided to continue and the new squad will be called Saxo Bank-Sungard. Both contracts are through the 2011 season.

The announcement was highly anticipated since last week, when Contador rejected a demand from his Astana team that he make an immediate commitment to ink a deal for the upcoming season. While Contador didn’t rule out extending his contract with Astana, he also said he was weighing other options.

Contador’s arrival comes on the heels of the departure of the Schleck brothers, who are ending their career-long association with Riis to form a new Luxembourg-backed squad in 2011.The move sets the stage for a dramatic showdown between the sport’s two biggest stars, Schleck and Contador with Riis having the inside knowledge on the Schleck brothers.

Contador joined Astana following the departure of Discovery Channel, but had a controversial run with the team. In 2008, Astana was kept out of the Tour that year, prompting Contador to try to break his contract with the team. Contador again tried to get out of his contract with Astana following his tumultuous 2009 season that featured the return of Lance Armstrong. Following the departure of Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel, who left to create RadioShack, Contador was still unsure of his future at Astana.

Contador released the following statement: ”I'm very happy and excited about signing a two year contract with Riis Cycling. With the unique philosophy and team spirit the team offers I'm ensured solid support from the sponsors, administration and staff of riders that I'm looking forward to becoming a part of myself. Historically, Riis Cycling has always been successful and together, we will have the ability to play a very important role in the world of cycling in the years to come."Though not confirmed, several riders are expected to follow Contador to Saxo Bank-Sungard from Astana, including Benjamin Noval, Jesus Hernandez, Dani Navarro and David de la Fuente.

Riis has secured Contador as team leader but now must rebuild his team for 2011. Andy and Frank Schleck have gone and are taking with them Riis’ former directeur sportif Kim Andersen and former press officer Brian Nygaard to manage the team. A number of staff and experienced riders are also expected to jump ship and work with the Schlecks, including Jens Voigt and  Stuart O’Grady