Dane may not make Saxo Bank for Spanish Grand Tour due to conflicting interests
Matti Breschel is likely to lead the Danish Worlds team and in order to deliver the best performance, he would love to do the perfect preparation. For many, this includes riding the Vuelta a España. But Bjarne Riis is thinking of the overall victory in the Vuelta, which may leave no space for Breschel on the team.
Riis is aware that he has plenty of motivated riders to choose from. “There are so many of our riders who would like to ride the Vuelta España,” he told Berlingske Tidende. Riis is not opposed entirely to the idea that some riders need some quality miles. “It is fine if riders want to prepare for the World Championships in Melbourne, but we must also have some results back,” Riis said.
The Danish team is likely building the team around Fränk Schleck, who crashed out of the Tour de France. The idea is to support him for the overall victory in Madrid on September 19. His brother Andy is likely to provide domestique services.
Four other spots are likely taken, according to Berlingske Tidende. Gustav Erik Larsson, the always reliable Stuart O’Grady, tempo rider Fabian Cancellara and Anders Lund. That leaves three open spots in the nine-man squad for the Vuelta.
Breschel had a very good Vuelta in 2008, when he won the final stage into Madrid. He also was sixth in the sprints classification, after several good results.