Cycling:Alberto Contador has agreed a two-year deal to ride for Bjarne Riis' Saxo Bank team. The three-time Tour de France winner announced recently he was leaving Astana, the team he rode with in this year's Tour, and on Tuesday he was unveiled by Riis as his team's major signing for 2011.
Riis is reshaping his team, which will from next year be known as Team Sungard-Saxo Bank following a new sponsorship deal. It had been feared Saxo Bank would not renew their sponsorship.
The team's current stars, Tour runner-up Andy Schleck and his brother Frank, are set to move on at the end of the current season.
They are expected to join a new Luxembourg-based team which they will help set up. It has been reported that Riis' former colleagues Kim Andersen and Brian Nygaard - who recently left Team Sky - will manage that team.
In a statement on the team website, team owner Riis said: ''Alberto is a world-class rider and it's with great pride that I can welcome him on board the team for the next two years.
"With three Tour de France victories on his resume and a position as number one on the world rankings, he is sure to stay at the very top for several years to come.
"Alberto will get a solid, strong and loyal team around him to support him in all terrains and I'm sure that this will be a fruitful alliance.''
Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen later, Riis said that the line-up would include world time-trial champion Fabian Cancellara, who is currently with the team.
Contador, who has also won the other Grand Tours, the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana, said: "I'm very happy and excited about signing a two-year contract with Riis Cycling.
"With the unique philosophy and team spirit the team offers I'm ensured solid support from the sponsors, administration and staff of riders that I'm looking forward to becoming a part of myself.
"Historically, Riis Cycling has always been successful and together, we will have the ability to play a very important role in the world of cycling in the years to come.''