Aussie veteran to join Schleck brothers’ Luxembourg team
Stuart O’Grady confirmed what the World has known for months at the World championships in Melbourne, Australia today: that he is to leave the Saxo Bank team at the end of the season, according to l’Equipe. The veteran Australian has been connected with the new Luxembourg team of Fränk and Andy Schleck, and was included in a list of 15 riders released in late August.
While he declined to confirm his 2011 destination, O’Grady will definitely be leaving the team of Bjarne Riis, where he has been since 2006.
“The team chose me as much as I chose it,” the 37-year-old Australian told AFP. “I’m eager to get the next year started. At my age it’s refreshing, with new challenges, a new organisation, it’s always very motivating.”
O’Grady has enjoyed some of the most successful year’s of his long career, the highlight of which was his victory in the 2007 edition of Paris-Roubaix. He has transformed himself from the young, Aussie roadman sprinter to one of the hardest working and highly respected road captains in the peloton.
Relations have recently been strained in the Saxo Bank team though, between many of its senior riders and team owner Riis. This came to a head in last month’s Vuelta a España, when O’Grady and Andy Schleck were sent home by Riis for disobeying team orders and going out drinking after dinner; details of exactly what happened have not officially been revealed.