Double world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland on Friday extended his contract with the CSC-Saxo Bank cycling team by another three years, until 2011.
Cancellara, who will begin as the favourite for the penultimate stage time trial of the Tour de France Saturday, has won some of cycling’s biggest one-day races with the Danish team run by former Tour winner Bjarne Riis. “It means a lot to me that my future is secure with Team CSC Saxo Bank,” said Cancellara. “This is where I belong and where I can reach my potential in the best possible way. When I reflect on the way I’ve evolved since joining the team and the things I’ve been through and everything the team and Bjarne have done for me, I’m totally convinced that I can be even better yet.”
Riis faces a nervous 24 hours, with Australian Cadel Evans tipped to overhaul his 1min 34sec deficit to CSC’s race leader Carlos Sastre in the 53km race against the clock on Saturday.
The Dane said: “What Fabian has achieved since he joined us is very unique and we’re extremely lucky to have someone like him, who can win the great Spring Classics and is the best time trial rider in the world.”
The 27-year-old Cancellara has 46 victories under his belt – nine of them in 2008 alone with Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-San Remo as the most prestigious. His other big victories are Paris-Roubaix 2006, the 2006 and 2007 world time trial crowns as well as three stage wins in Tour de France, where he has also worn the yellow jersey for nine days.