Bjarne Riis hails strongest ever Saxo Bank team

Saxo Bank manager Bjarne Riis dismissed on Thursday reports about the past and future of his team and focused instead on what he said was its current status as possibly the strongest ever outfit in the Tour de France.                                           

The Danish team, led by the 1996 Tour champion, was rocked this season by allegations that it might have used bikes equipped with electrical engines. There are also strong expectations that their two leaders, brothers Frank and Andy Schleck, will leave at the end of he season to form their own team.

"I want to make it clear before the Tour starts that we're going to ride it as a team and not talk about these rumours for the whole three weeks", Riis said, hinting he might announce a new sponsor after the three-week race is over.

"We have two riders, Andy and Frank who can make it on a podium, and possibly as one and two, and we have a team that''s good on the flat and good in the mountains, a team with experience and gifted young riders.

"We're here to win the Tour with possibly the strongest team in the Tour ever."                                           

Second last season behind Spaniard Alberto Contador, Luxembourg's Andy Schleck is confident he can go a step higher.  

"I was on the podium last year and I liked what I saw. I would love to be back on it and possibly on the highest step," he said.  

"We''ve checked the cobbles of stage three yesterday. I've checked all the climbs and the downhills of this Tour. I''m ready", he said.    

Flying                                       

The cobbles on the third stage to Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut is the most discussed item on the first week's schedule and the SaxoBank team are confident they will not be a problem. 

"We checked the cobbles yesterday and the guys were flying", Riis said.  

Paris-Roubaix winner Fabian Cancellara also said he had looked after the Schlecks in training on the cobbled sections.               

"I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw but the key for them will not be to stay in my wheel. They must watch their rhythm, avoid crashes", he said.

The Swiss, favourite to win Saturday's 8.9-kms prologue in Rotterdam, could tackle the cobbles with the yellow jersey on his back. 

But he made it clear that he would not be afraid to lose it to help the Schlecks if they were in trouble.

Cancellara will probably not be forced into such team tactics next season if, as expected, the Schlecks join a new team led by Danish director Kim Andersen.   

Asked again about allegations that he might have used an engine to win Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, he said:

"I've already said that it was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Now if the (world governing body) UCI want to scan our bikes, they can scan bikes. But it's a waste of time."