Chris Anker Sørensen has signed a three year contract extension with Bjarne Riis’ Saxo Bank team. The 25-year-old, who began his career with the team in 2007, has evolved to be a strong climber over the past three years. The young Dane has proven his talent with stage wins in the Dauphiné Libéré and the Österreich-Rundfahrt, and also by his supporting Andy and Fränk Schleck in the Ardennes classics and the Tour de France.
Now Sørensen is being given a chance to prove himself as a team captain. Bjarne Riis said, “Chris has an obvious potential which he repeatedly has been demonstrating at top level throughout the season. He has been through a really exciting development this last year and extending his contract with another three years was natural to me.”
This year he will be Saxo Bank’s leader for the Tour of Italy. “In May, the time is ripe for him to even have a chance of running his own chance as a leader of the Team Saxo Bank line-up for the Giro d’Italia, “ explained Riis from the team’s training camp on the island of Furteventura.
Sørensen was happy to have a long-term position on his “home” team. “I am extremely pleased to extend my contract so I can stay with the Team for another three years,” he said.
“The amazing team spirit and the way Bjarne and the rest of the team thinks ahead and innovatively with an eye for the best equipment and training methods is beneficial to my future development and I know that I can continue that development at Team Saxo Bank.”
While he will have his chances for leadership on the team, Sørensen also appreciates his role as a team player. “I will, to some degree, continue to fill out the role as a helper for the Schlecks but I am also grateful to Bjarne for letting me take on the role as a captain in the Giro d’Italia,” explained Sørensen, adding: “As a Dane, I am, of course, proud to continue at a major Danish team.”
With the recent announcement of Saxo Bank pulling its sponsorship after 2010, Riis’ team has a degree of uncertainty for the 2011 season. They recently added American technology company SunGard as a co-sponsor for the team, but there is no word on whether they will increase their investment in the team for 2011. Sørensen’s new contract will expire at the end of 2012.