Saxo Bank’s manager Bjarne Riis has chosen Dane Chris Anker Sørensen to lead his team for the Giro d’Italia when it starts on May 8 in Amsterdam. Riis has had an incredible track record of cultivating stage race performers with Andy Schleck, Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, Christian Vande Velde, and Bobby Julich all being a part of the Riis Cycling program at some point during their careers.
Sørensen, 25, is ready to take on the challenge for his team boss telling wielerland.nl, “I am very glad that I will be the leader and I know I will learn a lot. I am convinced that this will be a step forward as a professional cyclist.”
The best finish in a Grand Tour for the young Danish rider was in 2007 where he finished 19th in the Vuelta a España . In 2008 he won the mountainous sixth stage of the Dauphiné Libéré, attacking at the base of the Category 1 La Toussuire climb to win the stage by more than a minute. This past season Sørensen finished 16th in the Amstel Gold Race, 15th in Flèche Wallonne, 34th in the Tour de France, and 13th in the World Championship road race. He ended his season on a high note with a win in the Japan Cup.
Now, Riis thinks the young Dane can aim a little higher, and Sørensen doesn’t want to let his mentor down. “Riis has given me confidence and I want to be in top shape so I do not disappoint,” he concluded.