Saxo Bank becomes main sponsor of Riis’ team

MADRID (AP) — Bjarne Riis’ cycling team featuring two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will be sponsored by Saxo Bank next year.

The Danish investment bank has assumed the principal role after Tinkoff Bank pulled out following an acrimonious season working with Contador.

Saxo Bank founder Lars Seier Christensen says cycling provides “maximum reach at a reasonable cost.”

Contador says he plans on riding in the Tour de France and Spanish Vuelta next year.

Riis says “if we want to win, yes” Contador must do better than this year, which included a fourth-place Tour finish.

Contador says he is interested in Formula One driver Fernando Alonso’s project to build a cycling team, but only after his deal with Riis ends in 2015.