3-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador signs 2-year contract with Saxo Bank team

Tour winner Contador signs with Saxo Bank team

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador will race for the Saxo Bank-SunGuard team next year.

Team manager Bjarne Riis said Tuesday that the Spanish rider signed a two-year deal. Contador, who said last week he would leave the Astana team at the end of the season and study his options for next season, confirmed the announcement on his website.

“I think I’ve chosen the best option and I have confidence in Riis to build a great team in 2011,” Contador said. “I’m eager to start this new adventure together with a team and sponsors who have placed their trust in me and I want to show that they have not made a mistake.”

Riis said he believed Contador could improve as a rider with his team.

“Alberto is a world class rider and it’s with great pride I can present him as a member of the team for the next two years,” the Dane said. “I believe we have not seen his full potential yet.”

Riis declined to disclose financial details of the deal.

“Contador is always in the game to win and I respect that and like his ambition to win the three great tours in one year,” Riis said.

Contador said support of the team sponsors “has also been decisive in choosing this proposal.”